The DeKalb County Soil Conservation District paid tribute to the late Anita Houk Wednesday morning by planting a Sunset Maple tree in her memory at Green Brook Park. Family and friends of Mrs. Houk joined in the observance.

Houk was a 17-year office manager of the local Soil Conservation District Office until her retirement. She passed away in July.

“We are planting this tree in honor of her (Anita) because trees represent things that are big, straight, and tall and that is the way her life was. It stood out to me,” said Jimmy Herndon, President of the DeKalb Soil Conservation District Board of Directors prior to the tree planting.

“Anita really loved her job. It was a huge part of her life. She was always cheerful and had a happy attitude,” said Herndon.

“Anita and I attended high school together and I always felt comfortable being around her. She and her husband Bernard were our neighbors in the Blue Springs Community. She and I talked frequently over the years about things other than soil conservation business and in doing so she shared her faith in God and her belief in the power of prayer. We often talked about people who needed our prayers. That’s the way she thought about things. She was genuinely concerned about others and their needs,” added Herndon.