Ann Elizabeth Armstrong, 75, of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at her home on October 20, 2026.
Born on July 25, 1951, in Houston, Texas, a fact she was never particularly enthusiastic about, Ann attended parochial school before graduating from Frederick Douglas High School in Maryland in 1969, amid a period of profound social and political change. Those formative years helped shape her worldview and fostered a lifelong interest in politics, equality, and human rights. She continued her education at Towson University before eventually finding her permanent home in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a community she loved and served for many years.
Ann’s professional life was as varied as her interests. After many years working in the city’s Public Works Department, she went on to serve multiple terms as Eureka Springs City Clerk and Treasurer. In that role, she helped administer the city’s pioneering domestic partnership registry, which made Eureka Springs the first municipality in Arkansas to formally recognize same-sex partnerships. Her commitment to the community extended well beyond her official responsibilities. She generously contributed her time, resources, and considerable determination to the people and causes she believed in.
Strong-willed, adventurous, and never short on an opinion, Ann approached life with independence, curiosity, and a willingness to try almost anything. Her adventures included riding motorcycles and paragliding, but she was especially drawn to the water. Whether swimming, windsurfing, or sailing, summers on Beaver Lake were a cherished part of her life.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Theresa Agostini Armstrong and Andrew Royce Armstrong.
She is survived by her daughter, Freya Rose Friesen of Bentonville, Arkansas; her son, Seth Armstrong Connelly of Asheville, North Carolina; three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren; and her siblings, Royce Armstrong Birks of Forest Hill, California; Andrew Armstrong Jr. of Thousand Oaks, California; and Dr. Christopher Armstrong of Washington, D.C.
A celebration of Ann’s life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate her life, with a brief remembrance beginning at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library in Ann’s honor or charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com.
