Anita Ruth Saunders

Anita Ruth Murnan Saunders, lovingly known as "Nini," "Aunt Tina," and "Big Squirrel," passed away on April 21, 2025, at age 93.

A proud Colorado native and a lifelong, liberal Democrat, Anita lived a wonderful life.

Her career meant a lot to her.

Her family meant everything.

Kind, gentle, and empathetic, she wasn't just Mom to her four children; she was "Mom" to nephews, nieces, and neighborhood kids.

Anita was born on Nov. 22, 1931, in Denver, the daughter of Warren T. Murnan and Ruth Margaret Mattison Murnan. Her father, also a Denver native, had deep Irish roots, and Anita reveled in her Irish heritage throughout her life.

Warren "Mickey" Murnan died in 1937, during the Great Depression, leaving his wife, and his wife's sister, Ida Brunell (Aunt Ida), to raise Anita, her younger sister Peg, and younger brother, Tom. The three Murnan kids, who grew up near Washington Park in south Denver, remained close for the rest of their lives.

Anita graduated from St. Francis De Sales High School in 1949 and later attended Regis University.

She married Walter “Dusty” Saunders on November 19, 1955, in Denver. Anita and Dusty were married for nearly 67 years before Dusty’s passing in May 2022. They lived together in Edgewater, Arvada, and in Denver's Congress Park neighborhood.

Anita and Dusty had four children: Kathleen (Katie or G.A.), Patrick (NATO), Stephen (Reeper), and Bryan (The Boo). Needless to say, weird nicknames were part of the Saunders' family dynamic.

Anita, a fine writer, worked in a variety of creative and marketing positions and helped craft advertising campaigns as Creative Director for Lusky and Associates, one of Denver's best-known advertising firms. She was also a producer and writer for documentary films and series focusing on public art and civil rights in Denver. She also worked in marketing, promoting properties in Steamboat Springs and the Texas Gulf Coast. Anita was also instrumental in helping manage and promote the Denver Public Schools' annual Shakespeare Festival.

Anita had plenty of adventures in her 93-plus years, but none quirkier than the months she spent with her sister, Peg (Reed), daughter, Katie, and family friend Julie Moore, managing the band Sangumaas it toured the United States. The group, from Papua New Guinea, blended its cultural traditions with Western instruments to create a unique sound.

Anita and Dusty loved to travel with their friends. Their journeys included Ireland, Scotland, England, Victoria, B.C., New York, California, and Santa Fe.

Her favorite place in the world was Laguna Beach, Calif. But Colorado was always home. She loved the ocean and mountain valleys but hated mountain passes.

Anita loved flowers and tending to her gardens. She loved seafood, baked potatoes, hot-fudge sundaes, and family dinners on Sunday nights.

She loved dogs and loved cuddling with dogs. She called them "God's Angels."

Her favorite musical artists included Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday, Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joel, and, yes, Bruce Springsteen.

One of her all-time favorite movies was "Roman Holiday," with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. She and Dusty once had dinner with Peck, one of the many famous people she met.

Remaining to cherish Anita’s (Nini’s) memory are her children, Katie Saunders, Patrick Saunders (Nancy Immer Saunders), Stephen Saunders (Nancy Sharp) and Bryan Saunders (Kate Swan); her grandchildren, Ryan Saunders, Dylan Saunders, Casey Zickerman, Rebecca Zickerman, Cooper Saunders, and Jacob Saunders; andher nieces and nephews, Dake Warren, Mark Murnan, Clay Warren, Tracy Murnan Stackhouse, John Murnan, and Beth Warren Madaris.

Preceding Anita in death are husband Walter “Dusty” Saunders, parents, Warren T. Murnan, Ruth Margaret Mattison Murnan (known as Momo or Bambo); brother, Warren Thomas Murnan; sister, Margaret “Peg” Murnan Reed; nephew, Louis Warren; and daughter-in-law Pamela Moore Saunders.

A Celebration of Anita's Life will be held beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, at the home of Bryan Saunders and Kate Swan and Marylin Swan, 2030 Albion St., Denver, 80207.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Anita's name should go to St. Francis De Sales Church , the St. Francis Center in Downtown Denver, or the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation.