Anita Heath , 86, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026. Born in Santa Barbara and raised in Santa Ynez, California, Anita grew up with deep roots in the Central Coast — attending a one-room schoolhouse and proudly watching her father help build the Cachuma Dam, a legacy she carried with her always. She went on to live a life defined by fierce love, deep faith, and an open door that never turned anyone away. She was the kind of woman who made everyone feel like they were her favorite — and the remarkable thing is, she meant it every single time.

Anita cherished her time at Pepperdine University and dedicated her early years to raising her family with warmth and devotion. In time, she channeled her sharp mind into a remarkable second chapter — teaching night classes at H&R Block, earning her accounting credentials, and ultimately founding Anita's Tax Service, which she ran with pride and precision for over 40 years.

Anita's faith was rooted in the example of her mother, a faithful, Jesus-loving prayer warrior whom she missed every single day. In her mother's final years, Anita was by her side, lovingly caring for her until the end. She often said that if she could be half the woman her mother was, she would be a great person — and by all accounts, she far exceeded that measure. It was her mother's legacy of prayer that Anita carried forward, believing with her whole heart that God had kept her here for the very same purpose: to intercede for her family, just as her mother had done for her.

Those who knew Anita knew a woman who was impossible to forget. She had a laugh that filled any room, silly dance moves that came out without warning, and a beautiful singing voice she was never shy about using. She was famous for her stories — some told once, some told a hundred times — and nobody ever minded hearing them again. She couldn't keep a secret to save her life, but she always made you feel like you were the one person she trusted with it. She treasured every chance to visit the ocean, escape to the mountains, or make the trip to Oregon to see her beloved brother Gary and his wife Kathy — a place that always brought her pure joy.

Above all else, Anita's family was her greatest treasure. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Beatrice Litle, the father of her children and the love of her life, Albert Heath, and her beloved son, Joel Heath. She is survived by her daughters, Sharron Nisbett and Deborah Gehrke, along with 7 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and a vast extended family of those she claimed as her own — because if Anita loved you, you were family, no matter what.

Anita Heath leaves behind a legacy too large to measure and a love too deep to forget. She is not gone — she is in every prayer whispered over this family and every heart she made feel like her favorite. She is home now, dancing and singing with that beautiful voice. And knowing Anita, she's already told everyone up there that they're her favorite too.