Erna "Anna" Pulliam

Erna “Anna” Pulliam, passed away, surrounded by her family, on November 7th, 2026. She was such a strong and determined woman, battling with malignant melanoma, on and off for 20 years.

Erna was born in Schweinfurt, Germany, on February 20th 1953, to Erich and Bertha Schamberger. She was the youngest of 4 children.

At the young age of 16, she traveled to Green Cove Springs, Florida, on a 6 month Visa, knowing little to no English, to visit her sister. With her lack of knowledge of US law and limited English, she ended up overstaying that Visa. However, by that time, she ended up meeting the love of her life, Mike. Erna and Mike married on February 25th, 1972. By that time, she had taught herself to read and write English and also had a baby on the way.

In 1975, she had enough of the humidity and mosquitos in FL, so the small family packed up and moved to Mesa, AZ to be near Mike’s sister and their family.

In 1977, she was pregnant again, desperately hoping to have a little girl to go with her little boy. With only 1 day notice that she was expected to have twins, she had 2 girls on Christmas Eve.

1984 brought a move to Chandler to be closer to her work at Intel, in microchip manufacturing for the next 26 years, where they lived for the next 40 years.

Though busy with work and raising her family, she was dedicated to sharing her love of God by being a faithful member of Epiphany Lutheran Church. She found pleasure in needlepoint, knitting and crochet and loved to watch hummingbirds flitting about the multiple feeders she had up. Later in life her love of plants blossomed, and she beautified her home with many plants and flowers, indoors and out. She watched the Young & the Restless from its first air date, until just a couple days before her passing.

In 2016 Anna & Mike purchased their summer home in Happy Jack, AZ. Enjoying the tall pines and cooler temperatures of the mountains, it was decided to settle there full time. As a member of Calvary Bible Church, she continued her faith in God as well as developing a sense of community in her friends and neighbors there.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents, and siblings; Gerhardt, Frieda and Hans.

She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Mike, her children; Erich Pulliam (Amber), Dyana (Todd) Richardson, Dema (Keith) Christensen, and grandchildren; Michael (Randi) Richardson, Justin (Sybil) Richardson & Kalee (Tyler) Dunst.

Services will be held November 21st, at 10:00am

Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary

14 W. Hulet Drive

Chandler, AZ 85225

Reception to follow at noon, at the home of Sharon Richardson.