Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Maxine McCoy
Longtime Juneau resident Maxine McCoy, 86, died Jan. 1, 2005, at the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, where she had been undergoing treatment for a brief illness. She was born on Dec. 4, 1918, in Cooper, Texas.
She and her husband, Bernarr McCoy, moved to Juneau in the early 1950s after transferring with the U.S. Coast Guard from Ketchikan. She was employed in the office of the U.S. Coast Guard and then the Veterans Administration until she retired.
She was an active member of many Juneau organizations, including Perseverance Theater, Rebeka Lodge of the IOOF, Business and Professional Women, American Association of Retired Persons, National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees. She was a board member of the Gastineau Senior Center Advisory Board for many years and she volunteered at the Senior Information Office at the Juneau Senior Center. She also volunteered at the Glory Hole.
She assisted in registering seniors for the senior tax exempt cards and inoculations during the flu season. Her family and friends say, "She enjoyed dancing and singing and just making people smile and laugh." She was a member of the Hoochinoo and Hotcakes and participated in plays and musicals.
She was most active as a member for the last eight years of the local Juneau Joeys Clowns. She was known as "Glee."
She is survived by her sons, Barry McCoy and Rodney McCoy of Oregon; her three nieces, Toni Meadows, Patti Pecora and Ronni Squicciarini.
Her family and friends say, "She was known for many things, and will be dearly missed."
Her wish was to be cremated and interred at the Alaskan Memorial Park. There will be a memorial service potluck at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Juneau Senior Center.
Memorials may be made in the name of Maxine McCoy to a charity of your choice.
August Grunow
Former longtime Juneau resident August "Augie" R. Grunow, 71, died Dec. 29, 2004, in Portland, Ore., with his family by his side.
He worked for both the state of Alaska and the city of Juneau in the 1970s and 1980s. He was an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was a founding and active member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. In the early 1990s, he ran his own wood-working business, restoring and refinishing furniture. He and his wife, Donna, departed Juneau in May 1993 to enjoy retirement, sharing the adventure found in exploring America's highways.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Donna Jean Grunow; his daughter, Debbi Howard and her husband, Fred; son, Wayne Grunow and his wife, Susie; his sister, Mary Lou Olson; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 3 p.m. Jan. 19, 2005, at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.
William Edward Hixson
Former Juneau resident William Edward Hixson, 92, died Jan. 7, 2005, at Evergreen Health & Rehab in Bremerton, Wash.
He was born on Nov. 29, 1912, in Morthlack, Saskatchewen, Canada to Lewis O. Hixson and Irene A. (Sherman) Hixson.
He graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle in 1930. He entered the U.S. Coast Guard and served from 1934 to 1937. He was on the vessels Hyak and Talapousa. He married Helen (Allen) Hixson on July 1, 1939, in Juneau. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past year.
They lived in Alaska for 26 years. He worked in Property and Sales in Juneau, and also enjoyed doing radio repair. They lived in Hawaii from 1961 until 1991 and then in Port Ludlow, prior to moving to Bremerton 21Ú2 years ago.
He was a member of Masons, Scottish Rite and Shrine, all of Alaska. He enjoyed scuba diving, hunting, skiing and mountain climbing.
He is survived by his wife, Helen; daughters, Dottie (Collie) Martin of Kirkland, Wash., Barbara Hixson of Sedona, Ariz., and Chris Hixson of Bremerton, Wash.; grandchildren, Shawn (Amy) Martin and Mark Martin.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, at the Masonic Temple in Bremerton, Wash. An on-line memorial is available at www.lewischapel.com.
Memorial donations may be made to: Parkinson's Disease Association, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195.
Mark Jacobs Jr.
Southeast Alaska resident, Mark Jacobs Jr., 81, died quietly at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka around 5 p.m., on Jan. 13, 2005, with his wife, Adelaide, and son, Harold, by his side.
His Tlingit names are Saa.aat' (Cold), Keet wœ (White Killerwhale), Oodéishk'aduneek (Everyone Wants to Claim the Killerwhale) and Gusteiheen (Spray Behind the Dorsal Fin) and is the Naashaadeih‡ni (Clan Leader) of the Killerwhale Clan. He is the housemaster of Keet H’t (Killerwhale House) in Angoon and some of the clan's at.-ow. He was very well respected for his knowledge and commitment to the Tlingit culture and protocol. A noted historian and fluent speaker of the Tlingit language and knowledge of Tlingit culture and political history, he actively participates in Tlingit potlatches, and has used Tlingit potlatch as an intact Probate-Laws-Of-Succession to beat State Probate Law to keep Clan Property in correct Clan ownership.
He was part of the Sheldon Jackson School graduating class of 1947 and served for 34 years on the Executive Council; the last 4 years as Executive Council Emeritus, the only person to ever hold this honorary title with the tribe.
He was a proud World War II Veteran who witnessed the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima and recorded it in the ship's log; witnessed the second (larger) flag raising as well. He was also in the Okinawa and other campaigns. He was the former Director of Rural Development under Governor Walter J. Hickel (1967-1968).
He was preceded in death by his sons, Richard and Phillip and his daughter, Karen.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Adelaide; sons, Harold and Tony; sister, Bertha Karras; Aunt Matilda Gamble; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Juneau services are pending and will be officiated by Rev's. Richard Green and Jerry Bennett, and held at Glacier Valley Church of God, 8497 Thunder Mountain Rd., in Juneau, as soon as the weather permits safe travel. Services will also be held in Sitka at 5 p.m., on Jan. 17, at the Mother Coho House of the L'ooknax.adi (Coho Clan), at 6 p.m., on Jan. 18, at the Sheet'kakhwaan Naakahidee, the ANB Memorial Service followed by a Tlingit memorial service, and at 11 a.m., on Jan. 19, the funeral will be at the Centennial Building. He will be buried afterwards in the Sitka National Cemetery. A reception will be held afterwards at the Centennial Building.
His family and friends say, "We will all miss his profound leadership, determination, and dedication to the people of the State of Alaska and especially the Tlingit and Haida people."
William Philip Dunn
Longtime Juneau resident William Philip Dunn, 75, died Jan. 13, 2005 at his home in Juneau.
He was born July 26, 1929, in San Francisco, Calif., to William and Evelyn Dunn. He worked as a teacher and Fish & Game helper.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Evelyn Dunn; and his brother, Bob.
He is survived by nine first cousins and many loving friends.
Services will be announced this spring.
