Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Mary Ellen Brown
Juneau resident and longtime Alaskan MaryEllen Brown, 69, died March 20, 2003, in Juneau after a bout with cancer.
She was born July 12, 1933, in Chester, N.Y. She married Jim Brown of Anchorage in 1953 and resided in Alaska until her death. She retired from Fred Meyer three years ago and worked on the Mount Roberts Tramway the past two summers. Her family said she was happiest when being with or doing things for friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and son Lloyd.
She is survived by sons Mike (Penny) Brown of Sitka, Chuck (Aurelia) Brown of Sheldon Point, grandchildren Jynal, Clay and Alaina Brown of Sitka, Cheralyn and Aaron Brown of Sheldon Point, and brother Charles Nedley of Rocky Point, Conn.
Her family said she was also blessed to have the greatest friends in Betty Tompkins and her family, who knew her affectionately as Grandma Melon, and Peggy Bayeur and her family.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Chapel by the Lake.
Lela Susan Copenhagen
Juneau resident Lela Susan Copenhagen, 57, died March 21, 2003, at Bartlett Regional Hospital due to complications related to diabetes.
She was born April 22, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Rose and Maurice Robinson. She grew up in Southern California, and attended UCLA, UC-Berkeley and Humboldt State. She moved to Juneau in 1988 and was a longtime member of the Juneau Jewish community. She has worked at KTOO and the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in Juneau, and a longtime volunteer at the Glory Hole.
She is survived by her son, Samuel Cloud Copenhagen, sister Freya Ryave of Los Angeles, brother Michael Robinson of San Jose, Calif., nieces Mimi and Brianna Robinson, aunt and uncle Elsie and Ben Lincoln of Tucson, Ariz., cousins Larry Lincoln of Tucson, Ariz., and Steve Lincoln of Colorado Springs.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, March 25, at Northern Light United Church, followed by a reception at the home of Bill and Debbie Chalmers, 1628 Glacier Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the Glory Hole.
Elsa Lundell Mahan
Former Douglas resident Elsa Lundell Mahan, 85, died Thursday, March 20, 2003, in Seattle.
Mahan was born in Douglas on May 17, 1917. She graduated from Douglas High School in 1934, and the University of Alaska in 1939, where she met her husband of 55 years, Richard Mahan. They moved to "another island," Oahu, Hawaii, where they lived for 40 years before retiring to Seattle in 1992.
Her family said she lived her life happily and brought great love and support to her family and friends. They said, "We will miss her so."
She is preceded in death by her sisters, Violet O'Neill, Ruth Johnson, and Phyllis Eadie, her brother Harry Lundell, and her husband.
She is survived by her son Jim Mahan and daughter-in-law Annette Coggins of Juneau, her daughter Kathy Mahan and son-in-law Robert Raab of Seattle, and grandchildren Carly Raab, Ana Raab, and Kate Potter.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at the Park Shore Chapel, 1630 43rd Avenue East in Seattle. Remembrances may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 64421, St. Paul, MN 55164-0421.
Heather Ann Merkel
Former Juneau resident Heather Ann Merkel died March 15, 2003, in Bolivar, Mo., as a result of congestive heart failure.
She was born in Juneau April 8, 1974, and attended school in Juneau until her family moved to Lynnwood, Wash., in 1991. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1992, and attended Concordia College in Portland, Ore., from 1992-94.
Her family said they will never forget her laugh, and the children will always remember how Heather was never afraid to catch snakes and bugs for them. They said she never knew a stranger, and talked with everyone she came across.
She is survived by her parents, David and Kari Merkel, grandparents Vernon and Hazel Berwick, brother Joseph Merkel, sisters Sara Kleeman and Amy Kartchner, nephew Jacob Kleeman, and her nieces, Jessica and Emily Kleeman, and McKenna Kartchner.
Memorial services were to be held today at the Lutheran church on Whidbey Island, Wash.
Richard Dalton Sr.
Hoonah resident Richard Dalton Sr., 84, died March 20, 2003, at the SEARHC Mount Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka.
Final arrangements are pending, but will include an Alaska Native Brotherhood memorial service at 10 a.m. March 31, followed by a funeral at 1 p.m. the same day at the Hoonah A.N.B. Hall.
Julie Lisa Reel
Juneau resident Julie Lisa Reel, 43, died July 19, 2003, in Anchorage following a lengthy illness.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, July 28, at Glacier Valley Church of God on Thunder Mountain Road. An interment will follow at the Alaskan Memorial Park.
She was born May 10, 1960, in Seattle, Wash., and moved to Juneau in 1996.
Family said she was a gifted guitarist who made beautiful ceramic works. She was known locally as the "Snake Charmer." She was featured in several publications and known and consulted nationwide for her expertise as a handler and breeder of exotic snakes. Her illness finally forced her to forego the caring of her reptiles, but she continued as a consultant until the time of her death.
"Locally, she was in great demand to display her snakes and educate schoolchildren and the public on the care and handling of the reptiles," said a family member.
She and her 14-foot albino python, Buzz, and two 14-foot long African rock pythons, Bonnie and Clyde, were crowd favorites at the yearly Pet Festival, according to her family.
Family members said she regretted being unable to publicly display Riddler, her 19-foot Reticular python. Due to Riddler's bad disposition and lack of manners, he remained a local conversation piece.
She was preceded in death by her son, Isaac Grim, and grandmother, Jewel Orazio.
She is survived by her husband, David of Juneau; sons, Nathaniel (Kim) Grim of Nome and Luke Grim of the U.S. Army, Korea; mother, Nancy Murphy of Juneau; brothers, Mark, David (Janna) and Paul Smith of Juneau, and Tom (April) Owen of Nebraska; sisters, Lori (Robert) Humphries of Warrenton, Ore., and Denise Smith of Juneau; special friend, Dawn Ryks of Douglas; uncle, Michael (Karen) Orazio of Juneau; aunt, Adrienne Moore of Ritzville, Wash.; two grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
