LEWISTON — Annie Petrone King, 36, of Scottsdale, Arizona, died on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Lewiston. Annie suffered severe head trauma due to an accidental fall, and was surrounded by family and friends during the time of her passing.

Annie was born on August 28, 1979, at the Bridgton Hospital with Dr. Robert Doyle assisting her birth. She is survived by her husband Timothy King; her parents Cathleen Higgins Petrone and Dr. Thomas Petrone; her brother Kevin Petrone and his family, Eloise Petrone, Adi Petrone and Haden Petrone; her sister Kristin Hefflon and her family, Jay Hefflon, Magdalene Hefflon and Julia Hefflon; and her younger brother Thomas Petrone. Annie spent her childhood in the Bridgton/Moose Pond area and attended Fryeburg Academy, where she excelled in academics and skiing.

Annie filled our lives with joy and laughter by greatly increasing our capacity to love and to see beyond ourselves. As one of our friends said, “to know Annie is to love.” She was a sibling of four children and was best friends to Kevin, Kristin and TJ. Annie was a gentle, kind, and compassionate soul who was gifted at building relationships and finding inner peace. Annie was a generous daughter, loving sister, compassionate friend, fearless athlete, vulnerable artist, and gifted teacher. During the first 16 years of her life, she became a champion skier. During the last 21 years she found her calling for education, and running. Annie earned her BA in English from Arizona State University, her Master's in Secondary Education, and continued on to teach Literacy at Maryvale High School for 12 years. It was very fitting that Annie taught at a high school with a 97% Latino population who valued relationships, faith, hard work, and persistence — for these were Annie’s values as well. She became the teacher that students spent their lunch with, who they’d confide in, and who they relied on as a guiding force — helping them develop hope to be better and do better.

Annie’s athletic ability and persistence was admirable. She spent her winters on skis trying to keep up with Kevin, her older brother. At the age of 15, this persistence enabled her to earn the title of the best skier in the state of Maine in slalom and giant slalom. Shawnee Peak (which we still call Pleasant Mountain) was her second home and helped her build character and strength to persevere through the most difficult challenges in her own life. In her mid 20s Annie became a runner. She ran the New York Marathon at age 29 and continued to run another full marathon and three half marathons, completing one last year. One of her goals was to begin a running group at Maryvale High School to help students develop character and strength to persevere through their own struggles, and to find freedom from pain.

On July 16, 1999 she met Timothy King at her sister’s wedding. Two years later Annie and Tim celebrated their own wedding and enjoyed almost 15 years of a beautiful, loving marriage. The last 17 years of Annie’s life were her happiest and most fulfilling years. As friends and family know, Tim and Annie King were the life of the party and supported each other unconditionally. The King’s annual visits to the Lake Region area on the 4th of July were captured in various photos and videos that we continue to scroll through and enjoy. Annie became a loving family member to the friends she visited — making Tim’s extended friends and family her own. She ran the 4 on the Fourth, hiked Pleasant Mountain frequently, enjoyed long swims in the lakes, and danced and sang with fellow Mainers who became her extended family.

In her private life, Annie was an artist. She was a beautiful writer, poet, and singer. As a child, she sang herself to sleep and she had an uncanny ability to remember every word in just about every song she heard. Listening to and singing show tunes were her greatest pastime — this is something we’ll miss greatly. She was drawn to the soundtrack of Wicked and the main character’s ability to impact the world. The following quote is from her favorite song on the soundtrack of Wicked: “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn — and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them — and we will help them in return. But I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because of you. Because I knew you I have been changed for good.” All of our lives have been changed by Annie. Because of Annie’s gentle, generous, lively and compassionate nature, we will all love better, dance longer, sing louder, risk greater, run harder, dig deeper, and recognize our own vulnerabilities as strengths.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton. Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com