OBITUARY
ELINOR C. “ANNIE” ENGLAND

Annie’s last curtain call was on October 30, 2023 late in the evening. She was surrounded with love. Her sons, Lawrence R. Smith, Carlson W. Smith and Kevin Kirby, along with granddaughter Krystal Kirby preceded her in death.
Annie was born on June 16, 1934 to Gustave & Lena Carlson in Willimantic, Connecticut and attended the University of Connecticut in Storrs where she majored in theatre and business. She loved the theatre, and appeared in numerous productions throughout New England, Texas, Canada and Florida where she shared the stage with many local Brevard County thespians, finding a home at Surfside Players in Cocoa Beach. Some of her memorable shows included “Lost in Yonkers” (she did this show for Surfside Players, Titusville Players and for The Phoenix), “The Wizard of Oz”, and “Steel Magnolias”. She also performed in numerous Playwrights Workshop productions.
Prior to her move to Melbourne Beach, Florida in 1966, she had her own 2 hour daily radio talk show in Hartford, Connecticut, interviewing luminaries of the stage, screen, and artistic world. She became best friends with Dame Sybil Leek, famed astrologer & author of over 50 books, who appeared on her show many times and who also moved to Melbourne Beach. In addition to her love of performing, she spent 10 years at Patrick AFB as Protocol Social Director for the USAF, arranging dinner parties, receptions and many other activities for VIPs visiting Patrick, the Cape, and KSC. Some of her more memorable events included meeting and escorting President & Lady Bird Johnson, Vice President & Judy Agnew, President & Patricia Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Robert Goulet, the Thunderbirds, many astronauts and their families, NATO members, Doolittle Raiders, Dr. Von Broun and visitors from all over the world. She escorted guests to every type of launch, day or night from 1967-1975. She called those years “the Camelot years and became good friends with Marty and DeeDee Caidin. She introduced Marty to Sybil, and they subsequently co-authored a book together!
She then served as a USAF Liaison Officer in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada for 1976-1980 working under the NATO umbrella on joint cost-sharing USAF/Canadian projects. She continued acting and performed at the Rich Little Playhouse in Ottawa. Upon her return to Cocoa Beach, she was given an opportunity to get involved in oil exploration, and spent two years as one of the first female “wildcatters” in the oil fields of Uvalde and Batesville, Texas where her company drilled 3 oil wells. While out there she continued acting and appeared in “The Effect of Gama Rays on Man In-The-Moon Marigolds” and several other shows. Following this adventure, she then spent a year travelling throughout Europe, and lived in Switzerland, Monaco/Monte Carlo, and Nice, France for several months. Upon her return to Cocoa Beach, she took a position as property manager of commercial property in Port Canaveral. She retired in 2004 when she decided to move to the Islands and chase the Jimmy Buffet lifestyle with her then husband, Gordon England. They spent time in Abacos, and lived in Nassau, Bahamas for 2 years, boating, fishing, exploring the family islands. While there she worked for the first & second Bahamas International Film Festivals and appeared in the James Bond movie, “Casino Royale” starring James Craig. After returning home, she enjoyed acting, writing, fishing, travelling, watercolor painting, and occasionally playing a little blackjack on the casino boat! She loved and cared deeply for her extended family.

She is survived by daughters Kathleen (John) Ellertson, Mission, TX and Kimberlee Smith, Melbourne, FL; sons William Kirby (Sabrina), Lenoir City, TN, Timothy Kirby, Spokane, WA, Michael (Debbie) Kirby, Sarah, MS; grandsons Michael Smith, Taunton, MA, Carlson Smith, Fairfield, CA, Sean (Meghan) Kirby, Satellite Beach, FL, Keith Kirby, Aurora, CO; granddaughters Alixandra Kirby, Lenoir City, TN and Jennifer (Ricky) Paxton, Moore, OK; great-granddaughters Trinity Cohee, Norman, OK, Alexis Paxton, Moore, OK, Grace and Lylah Kirby, Satellite Beach, FL; great-grandson Trevor Cohee, Bishop, TX, Sean Kirby Jr, Satellite Beach, FL, Aaron, Robert and Isaac Kirby, Ocean Springs, MS, and numerous other relatives. She is also survived by her ex husband, Gordon England, Cocoa Beach, FL, and daughter Stephanie (Thom) Morris, Charleston, SC. Annie was a giving, generous, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an accomplished actress. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Everyone who met her remembered and their lives were touched in some way because of her. She was a member of Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach.

A celebration of life will be Saturday Jan 6th at 10am to be held at Surfside Players AIA, Cocoa Beach, Florida followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. (or somewhere!) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Annie to Surfside Players, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931.