Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Terry David Renner
Former Juneau resident Terry David Renner died June 24, 2002, in Tavares, Fla.
He was born July 10, 1952, in Anchorage, and graduated from Dimond High School.
He had been working as a real estate agent with Century 21 Arrow Realty in Leesburg, Fla. He was previously the co-owner of Renner's Gas-n-Saves in Anchorage, owner and operator of the Aurora View Inn bed-and-breakfast in Juneau, and a commercial fisherman in Kasilof.
As president of the Alaska Underground Tank Owners and Operators Program, he was a lobbyist for 10 years in Juneau. He was also a pilot and loved flying his own aircraft, and was an avid sports hunter and fisherman, his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Cheri Vavalis Renner, and daughter, Rena Sue Renner, of Tavares, Fla.; daughter Brittni Rochelle Renner of Anchorage; sons Chad and Brandon Renner of Anchorage; parents Darrel and Sue Renner; sister Cindy Renner; grandchildren Zoe and Maxwell Renner; daughter-in-law, Andrea Renner, all of Anchorage; brother Randy Renner and sister-in-law Rose Renner of Kasilof; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
A memorial service will be held in Anchorage at 5 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2002, at Rabbit Creek Community Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Father's House, 2301 South Street, Leesburg, FL 34748.
Shirley Davis Mowrey
Shirley Davis Mowrey died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002, at her home in Santee, Calif. She was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Juneau. She went to school in Juneau and spent much of her life in Alaska, California and New York.
Her early life was dedicated to music and drama. She worked on the staff of CBS in New York City during the early years of television, and was the only woman cellist on the Andre Kostelanetz show. She played with a quintet in the "Charm Time" television series, and was a solo cellist with the Merlin "Enchanted Strings," an all-women orchestra on Dumont television. She also acted in various television series on Dumont and NBC.
In the Los Angeles area, Mowrey gave cello and piano classes at her home. She also played the cello in various studio orchestras. She worked in sales and marketing for the last 20 years of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carol Beery and Trevor Davis, and two sisters. She is survived by her sister Connie Davis, two daughters and a son, two granddaughters and a grandson, and three nieces.
Celebrations of her life will be held in Santee, Calif., and Juneau, but dates have not been set.
Stella Martin
Lifelong Alaska resident Stella Martin died Aug. 26, 2002, in Juneau.
Martin, whose Tlingit name is Yaan da yein, was born on Nov. 28, 1922, in Kake to Charles and Annie Johnson. She was Tsaagweidei, Killer Whale Clan, of the Yellow Cedar House (Xaai Hit') and the Eagle Moiety. She attended Sheldon Jackson from sixth grade through 12th grade and married Robert Rueben Martin the day after she graduated. The couple raised six children and was married for 46 years.
She was active in the Alaska Native Sisterhood camps in every community in which she lived: Sitka Camp No. 4, Kake Camp No. 10, Juneau Camp No. 2 and Glacier Valley Camp No. 70. At the time of her death she was a life member and camp mother of the Glacier Valley Camp. She was co-president of Juneau Camp No. 2 when its new ANB Hall was built and played a key role in raising funds for the building. She was elected ANS grand president at age 35 and served two terms. At the time of her death she held the title of grand president emeritus of the Alaska Native Sisterhood.
Martin also was active with the Salvation Army, the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the St. Ann's Hospital board, Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Alaska Legal Services board, among other entities.
She was one of the first tribal judges, an AWARE Woman of Distinction, the Sealaska Woman of the Year, winner of the Elizabeth Peratrovich ANS Citizenship Award, and Delegate of the Year for Tlingit and Haida. This year she was honored with the title of Hostess of the General Assembly for the tribe.
Family members said her legacy will live on through the lives of those who knew her, just as the legacy of her parents and grandparents lived on through her. In recognition of her service to the state, Gov. Tony Knowles has ordered state flags in Southeast Alaska lowered to half-staff on Aug. 30.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert and a daughter, Michele.
She is survived by her sons Bob Jr. and his wife Virginia, Juneau, Bill and his wife Lorraine, Fremont, Calif., and George, Watsonville, Calif.; daughters Priscilla Steele and her husband Jim, Juneau, and Rena, Seattle; brother Charles Johnson, Kake; sisters Flora Huntington and her husband Tom, Juneau, and Augusta Connelley and her husband Chuck, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and many "adopted" children and grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 at the ANB Hall. Funeral services are planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Tlingit and Haida Community Center. She will be buried at Alaskan Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Ben, Robert and Josh Steele, Steven Pennoyer, Lawrence Barkley, and the members of the ANB executive committee. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Steele, Patrick Pennoyer, Tom Huntington, Cyril George Sr., William E. Smith, Miles Ramsdell, Edward Thomas, Robert Loescher, Richard Jackson and all past ANB grand presidents.
Geraldine Nellie Bledsoe
Former Juneau resident Geraldine Nellie Bledsoe (Mayeda) died Aug. 18, 2002, in Redding, Calif.
She was born March 7, 1954, in Juneau and was of the Eagle Killerwhale moiety. She worked for America Wall Covering for six years as a taper/painter, and at Myer Motel in Redding, Calif., and as a homemaker. She recently went to school to learn computers to work in the medical field, but illness prevented her from completing the classes.
Her family said her love for hot weather kept her in Redding, and in her leisure time she loved to read and play computer games. Early in her adult life she loved to travel, and visited 36 states.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Nellie Hanson; mother Violet Mayeda; sister Carol Johnson; brother George Mayeda Jr.; aunt Evangeline Scharclane; uncles Albert and Robert (Jr.) Hanson; and niece Erica Johnson.
She is survived by her husband Kevin Bledsoe of Redding, Calif.; father George Mayeda of Juneau; sisters Karen (Michael) Orazio; Vera (Jim) Jackson; Maxine (Ronald) Cropley, all of Juneau; and Elizabeth Johnson of LaPeer, Mich.; brothers Gerald (Marlis) Mayeda and John (Paula) Mayeda of Juneau; aunts Martha James, Virginia Hanson and Judy Hanson, all of Juneau; and Bernice Smith of Hoonah; 22 cousins; 21 nieces; and 12 nephews.
A memorial service was held at the ANB Hall on Aug. 26, 2002. For questions and donation information contact Marlis Mayeda at 790-3124.
Michael 'Lurch' Adams
Longtime Juneau resident Michael "Lurch" Adams died at his home Monday, Aug. 26, 2002.
Adams moved to Juneau with his family in October, 1965. He worked as a driller-powderman all over the state. Friends said that he was outgoing and always had a good word for everyone. He will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
He was preceded in death by his parents Al and Nina Adams, brother Ernie White and sister Helen Springer.
He is survived by longtime companion Julie Reifers, Juneau; son Patrick, Juneau; brother Al Adams Jr., nephews Jim and Michael Paul, and nieces Bonnie, Tammy and Shelly, all of Washington State.
At his request, a funeral service will not be held. A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Sandbar Bar and Grill.
