Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Matthew Guy Ferreira
Former Juneau resident Matthew Guy Ferreira died Aug. 6, 1998, near his home in Anderson, Alaska. He was 24.
He was born Feb. 18, 1974, to Melvin and Patricia Ferreira in Juneau. He graduated from Anderson Village High School in 1992, and was a member of the community there for the past 13 years. He graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast in 1997.
In his youth he commercially hand-trolled for salmon with his grandfather in Juneau. Muscular dystrophy forced him into a wheelchair when he was in eighth grade. In 1983 he was the state poster child for muscular dystrophy. In high school he participated in sports as manager of the Anderson Grizzlies, and was active in Muscular Dystrophy Association programs.
He was preceded in death by grandparents Thomas and Patricia Gemmell of Juneau, and Frank Ferreira of Hawaii.
He is survived by his parents, Melvin and Patricia Ferreira; sisters Bridget and Maile Ferreira of Anderson; grandmother Kay Ferreira of Hawaii; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alaska Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1838 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, Alaska, 99517.
Bessie Irene Thomas
Lifelong Juneau resident Bessie Irene Thomas died Aug. 13, 1998, at her home in Juneau. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Chapel by the Lake.
She was born June 12, 1918, in Juneau, to William and Irene Powers. She attended Juneau schools and married Joe Thomas in 1941. In her early years she worked for the phone company, and owned and operated the Sugar Bowl restaurant and Commercial Liquor. After raising a family in Juneau she went to work for Alaska Communication System (ACS), which later became Alascom. After retiring, she and her husband lived briefly in Ellensburg, Wash. She moved back to Juneau following his death in 1983. She was a member of the Juneau Pioneers and the Emblem Club.
Her family writes that in her younger years she loved to bowl and paint. She enjoyed flower gardening, and was a wonderful cook, known for her fruit cakes. She will be remembered by her family and friends for her outgoing personality and her wonderful sense of humor.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Judy Thomas; daughter and son-in-law Judy and Charlie Robinson; daughter and son-in-law Paula and Charlie Smith; grandchildren Paul and Leeann Thomas, Michael and Tom Robinson, and Charlene Steinman; and great grandchildren Derec and Danielle Steinman, all of Juneau; and sisters June Scott of Oregon and Vivian Vaughn of New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, 3200 Hospital Drive, 99801.
Nicholas M. Newman
Former Juneau resident Nicholas M. Newman, 15, drowned June 27, 1999, in Anchorage.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Northern Light United Church, with the Rev. Walter Soboleff officiating. A reception at the church will follow the services. He will be buried in Juneau next to his grandmother, Ruth Willard.
He was born Dec. 18, 1983, in Juneau. He lived in Juneau until 1989, when his family moved to Anchorage. He attended East Anchorage High School as a freshman and had been a football player for the Pop Warner Association, and his team was the 1998 state champion.
He loved to ride bikes and hang out with his friends. He also enjoyed the outdoors and fishing.
His family said he was open-minded and unprejudiced, and although he was an accomplished athlete he was modest about his successes. They said they were astounded at the turnout at the visitation this week in Anchorage, with teachers, friends, fellow students and parents paying respects and sharing stories about how much he had affected their lives.
"He was an amazing kid," his father said.
He is survived by his father, Charles Newman, step mother Judi Kimball, mother Jennifer Fawcett, three brothers, Charles Newman, William Bray and Christopher Newman, two sisters, Carolee Newman and Tammy Hilton, and grandmother Geneive Hilton, all of Anchorage, and numerous other relatives and friends.
His family can be contacted in Juneau at 364-3368.
Renner Lawrence McKinley
Former Juneau and Hoonah resident Renner Lawrence McKinley, 35, died April 9, 1999, in Bellingham, Wash. He was born May 18, 1963, to Harold and Gloria McKinley of Juneau. He was a graduate of Hoonah High School and attended Sheldon Jackson College. He enjoyed playing the saxophone and baking, and his hobby was collecting clown memorabilia. He was a resident of Kalamazoo, Mich. for three years and Bellingham for 11 years.
He is survived by parents Gloria and Harold McKinley; sisters Geraldeen Vera, Jackie McLean, Martha Upson; brothers Harold "Bo" and Victor McKinley, all of Juneau; and sister Verdi Brogdon of Bethel. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.
Services for McKinley will be held at at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mendenhall Valley Church of God. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Martha Upson, 9324 Glacier Highway, Number 2, Juneau, AK 99801.
Sister Mary Thibodeau
Former Juneau resident Mary Thibodeau, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, died of cancer Aug. 23, 2000, in Spokane, Wash. She was 69.
She was born May 9, 1931, at St. Ann's Hospital in Juneau to Rose and Joe Thibodeau. She was the fifth child of the pioneering Juneau family. She attended St. Ann's School and graduated from Juneau High School in 1949.
She attended Marylhurst College in Portland, Ore., and entered the Holy Names Order a year later. She received a master of arts education degree in social studies from Eastern Washington University and continued her education at Boston University, Fort Wright College and Seattle University. She served in education and religious studies in Spokane, Everett, Auburn and Seattle, Wash.
On June 3 she celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a nun.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Kenny. She is survived by her brother Robert (and Aurelia) of Juneau, sisters Cecilia (and William) of California, Dorothy of Oregon, brother Joseph (Geri) of Washington, and her sister-in-law Sally, the widow of her brother Kenny. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held today in Spokane and burial will be in the Holy Names plot in Spokane.
Ethel May Campbell
Former Juneau resident Ethel May Campbell died Aug. 15, 200, in Juneau, while in Alaska visiting friends. She was 84.
She was born April 26, 1916, in Washington, D.C. She moved to Juneau in 1986 with her son, the Rev. John Campbell, and his family.
John Campbell was the first pastor at the church, and friends wrote that Ethel was a tireless worker at Aldersgate in the beginning years of the church, and maintained her membership and continued her support after she left Juneau in 1995. The church kitchen is named in her honor.
She enjoyed cross stitching, working on the computer and activities with United Methodist Women.
She was an active member of Glen Burnie United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Md., the United Methodist Church of Unalaska and Davidsonville United Methodist Church in Davidsonville, Md. She was also a member of the Glen Burnie chapter of the Eastern Star.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Campbell and her son David Campbell.
She is survived by her five sons Robert (and Cynthia) of Georgia, Richard (and Lynn), the Rev. John (and Bonnie), Mark and Michael (Marjorie) Campbell, all of Maryland; daughters Eileen Gibson (and Charles) of New York and Nancy Azeezs (and Sam) of New Jersey; 16 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
Services were held in Davidsonville last week. A memorial service will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. today
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 33491, Juneau, AK, 99803.
