Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Guy A. Russo
Former Douglas resident Guy A. Russo, 84, died in the early hours June 20, 2006, at his home in Anchorage. His wife, Grace Russo, and three sons, Larry Russo, Guy Russo Jr., and Louis Russo, were with him. A full obituary will follow at a later date.
Elizabeth Pullen Ellett
Former Juneau resident Elizabeth Pullen Ellett, 95, died June 5, 2006, in Denver.
She was born Sept. 12, 1910, in Juneau, to Winfield Scott Pullen and Valeria Bachman (Martin) Pullen. Her father ran Alaska Electric Light & Power after traveling to Alaska from Maine, via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1904. Her mother was a licensed nurse. Elizabeth Pullen graduated from Juneau High School in 1928, attended Reed College in Portland, Ore., and graduated from the University of Washington in 1932, where she pledged Tri Delta. In 1931 in Seattle, accompanied by former Alaska Gov. George Parks, she christened the ship North Star with Arctic water.
She married Emerson Skinner Ellett in 1936 and lived in Denver for the remainder of her years. She volunteered for the Red Cross; Spalding Rehabilitation for 25 years, acting as president in 1968 and 1973; St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, as a member of its Commission on Aging; St. Martha's Guild, as the Neighborly Hour's program planner for 35 years; and Steele School, where she helped young readers until age 90. She was a member of the Fortnightly Club, Glenelk Association and University Club. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, environmental organizations and the Gastineau Humane Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Winfield Pullen; and daughter, Valerie Huston.
She is survived by her son, Emerson Ellett, of Ocean, N.J.; daughter, Mary Stern, of Allenspark, Colo.; eight grand children and seven great- grandchildren.
Patricia Joan (Gray) Rowland Vadman
Former Juneau resident Patricia Joan (Gray) Rowland Vadman, 67, died July 7, 2006, at her home in Yuma, Ariz., following a lengthy respiratory illness.
She was born April 15, 1939, in Longview, Wash., to Harold "Buck" Steward Gray and Ethel Grace James Gray. After graduation from Lincoln High School in Lincoln City, Ore., she married Rich-ard "Dick" Glenn Rowland. They moved to Kodiak in 1958, where he was employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and then to Juneau in 1959 when he was transferred to the Auke Bay Laboratory. In April 1964, her husband died in a boating accident during a research assignment at Traitors Cove near Ketchikan. They had three children: Steward, 6, Donnet, 5, and Richard, 3.
She met Ted Lowell Vadman in 1967. They married the following year at Chapel by the Lake and renewed their vows in 2002. They recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. They resided in Juneau until 2004, when they moved to Yuma.
She worked as station manager for the Hertz and Avis corporations at Juneau Interna- tional Airport for 22 years, retiring in 1996. While living in Juneau, she was active in March of Dimes, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Beta Sigma Phi, Juneau Yacht Club and Pioneers of Alaska.
Her family members said, "Pat was a very devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be deeply missed."
Pat is survived by her husband, Ted; son, Stew Rowland and wife, Mindy, of Juneau; daughter, Donnet Rowland Villegas and husband, Arnold, of Yuma; son, Richard Rowland, of Anchorage; granddaughters, Nichole Rowland, of Anchorage, and Carli Myers, of Yuma; grandsons, Justice Rowland, of Anchorage, Rowan Villegas and Kevin Villegas, of Yuma, and Matt Villegas, of Oxnard, Calif.; three great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Donald Rowland and wife, Brenda, of San Jose, Calif.; and sister-in-law, Nancy Kuntzmann and husband, Paul, of Portland, Ore.
She was preceded in death by her first husband and parents.
At her request, a Celebration of Life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. July 30 at the Juneau Yacht Club. Her remains will be scattered at her three most memorable and favorite locations: the Auke Bay area, the Oregon Coast near her childhood home in Lincoln City and the Mall of America in Minneapolis.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in her name be made to Hospice and Home Care of Yuma, 1824 South Eighth Ave., Yuma, AZ, 85364-5517. Condolences may be sent to Ted Vadman, 10413 East 38th Place, Yuma, AZ, 85365.
Ruth Margaret Kasko
Klukwan resident Ruth Margaret Kasko, 77, died July 8, 2006, at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, surrounded by her family and friends following a lengthy illness.
She was born Aug. 18, 1928, to Daniel and Margaret Katzeek in Klukwan. She carried the names Kadaykalt and Yikdatoo of the Khutees Hit daxh, "Looking Out House," of the Ghaanaxhteid clan of Klukwan.
She attended Sheldon Jackson through grade eight and received her GED. On Feb. 8, 1950, she married Edwin Kasko, of Klukwan. Together they worked for more than two decades to promote Edwin as a pre-eminent Tlingit carver and silversmith.
Her family said, "Ruth was totally dedicated to her family and Tlingit traditional values. She was a dedicated mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunty to her entire family." She was a skilled weaver of Chilkat and Ravenstail blankets, as well as cedar baskets, and an accomplished skin sewer, they said.
She took a leadership position in 1998 as a prime promoter of Keet Gooshi Tours, one of the first all-village based cultural tours to be led by Tlingit guides. According to her family, she was an avid supporter and cultural advisor to the Bald Eagle Foundation of Haines.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Alice Katzeek and Marian Kelm; and brothers, George, James, Frank, Watson and Tom Katzeek.
She is survived by her brother, Smith Katzeek Sr.; daughters, Alice Morris, Lorraine Kasko and Marjorie McWhorter; grandchildren, Denise and Dennis "DJ" Morris; Cortes and Jessica McWhorter; great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation in Juneau was held July 13 at the chapel at the Alaskan Memorial Park and Mortuary. Memorial Services are planned for July 15 at the Alaska Native Sisterhood Hall in Klukwan. Details to be announced.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Chilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center, care of the Chilkat Indian Village, P.O. Box 210, Haines, AK, 99827.
Steven Hunt Rice
Former Juneau resident Steven Hunt Rice, 53, died July 10 at home in Anchorage.
He was born March 7, 1953, in Johnson City, Tenn. He attended Middle Tennessee State University, and received his Bachelor of Arts from University of Alaska-Juneau.
He became a resident of Alaska in 1984, living in Juneau until 1995 and residing in Anchorage ever since. He worked as a manager for Bullwinkle's Pizza in Juneau and was an owner for Roundtable Pizza in Anchorage. He was involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and served on their board of directors and with the Boy Scouts of America. He was passionate about music, outdoor recreation and exploring Alaska.
His family said, "He was an expert at organizing and executing camping trips to his favorite wilderness places for family and friends, and sharing Alaska's adventures with visitors."
He was preceded in death by his father, Bailey Rice of Johnson City.
He his survived by his wife, Phyllis Rice; son, Sam Rice; mother, Hazel Rice, of Johnson City; brothers, Devereux Rice of Bellevue, Wash., and Sam Rice, of Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters, Martha Murray, of Kingsport, Tenn., and Susanne Poythress, of Raleigh, N.C.; step daughter, Alexis Bacharach, of Washington; step granddaughter, Lily Mae Trenchard, of Washington; several nieces and nephews; and uncle, Sam Donaldson, of Atlanta.
A service will take place at 11 a.m. July 14 at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, in Anchorage.
Memorial donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Anchorage, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Anchorage, AK, 99503.
Jason Morrow Sr.
Juneau resident Jason Andrew Morrow Sr., 34, died July 7, 2006, at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Wash., after a long battle with Hodgkin's disease.
Born Feb. 12, 1972, in Pendleton, Ore., he graduated in 1990 from Mazama High School in Klamath Falls, Ore. In 1992, he moved to Peter's Creek, Alaska. After graduating from Culinary School in Seward, where he met his wife, Sherrilyn, he moved to Juneau and made his home there with her and their three children.
He spent his time in Juneau cooking, driving his taxicab, playing his guitars and fishing at his favorite places with his family.
He is survived by his wife, of Juneau; daughters, Kelleen and Alison, of Juneau; son, Jason Jr., of Juneau; parents, Jim and Patty Scantlin, of Golden, Colo.; mom, Adeline St. Clair, of Hoonah; sister, Shauna Koehler, of Big Lake, Alaska; grandmother, Jennie Lindoff, of Hoonah; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. July 13 at Alaskan Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3839 Riverside Drive. Donations may be made to Jason Morrow Memorial Fund, Care of Adeline St. Clair, P.O. Box 246, Hoonah, AK, 99829.
