Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Patricia Ruth Muir
Former Juneau resident Patricia Ruth Muir died peacefully Jan. 5, 2007, at Heritage Place in Soldotna. She was 82.
She was born Nov. 24, 1924, in Spokane, Wash. She graduated from Kirkland High School and attended Edison Vocational in Seattle. She moved to Tenakee Springs in 1949. During the next 58 years, she lived in Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Caribou Island on Skilak Lake and Soldotna.
She spent 16 years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a statistician and as the animator for Pot Roast, the moose puppet on the Fish and Game television program in the late '60s.
After retiring from Fish and Game, she worked as an editorial assistant for the FAA, where she was named Outstanding Federal Employee in 1983. She was a partner for five years in Sterling Court Reporters before retiring again at 65.
A student of many spiritual philosophies, she found community with the Ridgeway Bahais in Soldotna.
She was involved in community service her whole life. She founded the Kirkland YMCA Las Casa de Leche Club to benefit March of Dimes in 1944 after surviving polio, and held a variety of offices with March of Dimes over many years, including state vice-president.
She served as an officer with Fairbanks Parent Teachers Association, worked with women and at-risk children as a parent aid to the Anchorage Child Abuse Board and as a foster parent; served on the board of Alaska Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association; was a founder of Bridges Community Resource Network, and volunteered with the Foster Grandparent Program at Soldotna Elementary.
She recently celebrated her 50th anniversary as a P.E.O. sister, and was also a member of the NAACP, Toastmasters and the Business and Professional Women.
Amazingly independent, creative and tenacious, she had wide-ranging interests, including a love of horses, superb skill as a gardener, seamstress, cook and baker, award-winning excellence as an artist and in various crafts, and a deep interest in holistic health and healing, said family members. They remember her uproarious sense of humor, zest for life and ability to create fun and excitement. She was mother to many people and will be missed by a large honorary family, they said.
She was preceded in death by her former husband, Robert L. Crow.
She is survived by her daughters, Ann WingQuest and her husband, Wendell Lane, of Anchorage, Joan Crow-Epps, of Soldotna; Beth Adams and her husband, Layne, of Anchorage, and Susan Widby-Crow and her partner, Jim Ihrig, of Wenatchee, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Theron Flavin, Jeremy Flavin, James Frusetta, Katie Scott, Eric Peterson, Joel Adams, Brian Adams, Jaxom Widby and Kayla Widby; two great grandchildren, Kenneth Yona Scott and Jordyn Flavin; nephew, Loren John Muir and his family; and cousin, Sharon O'Toole and her children.
A celebration of life is planned for Saturday in Soldotna. Her ashes will be scattered at Muir Glacier.
At the family's request, instead of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1750 Abbot Road, Anchorage, AK, 99507. Condolences may be sent to her family at 44690 Sunrise Ave., Soldotna, AK, 99669, (907) 262-9019. Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.
Anna Bell Carey
Haines resident Anna Bell Carey died Dec. 23, 2006, peacefully at her home. She was 84.
She was born to Charles and Anna Wilson on Nov. 17, 1922, in Castle Shannon, Pa.
She was wed in 1988 to William E. Carey of Sarasota, Fla., where they lived until moving to Haines in 1991.
Upon graduating from high school, she went to Center College and the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a bachelor's degree in accounting. At the time of her retirement, she had been executive secretary to the CEO of the Calgon Corp. for 12 years.
She was active in the Emblem Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Ladies Oriental Shrine and Eastern Star.
Family said she would be remembered for her generosity and fondness for the color blue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Haines Emblem Club No. 463, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 351, Haines, AK, 99827
She was preceded in death by her husband on Jan. 7, 2006.
She is survived by her half brother, Charles L. Wilson, of Shepherdstown, W.V.; and cousin, Vivian Beltzhoover, of Wilmington, N.C.
A memorial service was held Sunday in Haines. A reception followed at the Elks Lodge. In attendance were all who loved, admired and respected her. Many fond stories and memories of her life were shared at the reception.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her, relatives said.
Mary Lee Choate
Juneau resident Mary Lee Choate died Jan. 2, 2007, at the Alaska Native Medical Hospital in Anchorage. She was 77.
She was born April 1, 1929, to Harry and Adel Williams. She was raised in Haines and Klukwan by her adopted grandparents, Wille and Martha Lee.
She attended Sheldon Jackson High School, Sheldon Jackson College and Whitehorse Christian Training Center. She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a master's degree, magnum cum laude.
She is survived by her brothers, Loy Arandela Jr., and Thomas Williams; sisters, Alice W. Johnnie and Marsha Hotch; sons, Nicholas Kokotovich Jr., Michael H. Smith, Barrington Lee Smith and Crawford Smith; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, neices and nephews; and her caretaker and nephew, Fred Phillips.
Services will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Tlingit and Haida Community Council Building on Hospital Drive. A burial will follow in spring in Haines.
Any donations may be made to the family in care of Fred Phillips, P.O. Box 20987, Juneau, AK 99802.
Hartley 'Pete' Crosby
Longtime Juneau resident Hartley "Pete" Crosby, died Jan. 15, 2007, at the Juneau Pioneer Home. He was 91.
He was born Sept. 19, 1915, in Omaha, Neb. His family later moved to Portland, Ore. During the early 1930s, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Oregon. His sister, Brownie Bland, and her husband, Charlie, lived in Juneau. They persuaded him and their sister, Thelma, brother-in-law, A.W. "Bud" Boddy and their family to come to Juneau.
They arrived in Juneau on the passenger ship Northland in the fall of 1941. He went to work at the A.J. Mine as a crane operator. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and went through basic training at Fort Chilkoot in Haines. He was stationed at Moses Point, where he ran a bulldozer to keep the airfield clear so airplanes could land and refuel.
After the war, he returned to Juneau and went to work for the Corporation of Engineers at the Subport. He met Jean Eby, and they were married in November 1947.
In 1948, he became a police officer for the Juneau Police Department. In 1952, he became a Deputy U.S. Marshal.
When Alaska became a state, Gov. Bill Egan asked him if he would be interested in applying for a position as a traveling magistrate. He applied and was hired.
Later he was appointed district court judge and served until his retirement in 1974. At the time of his retirement, he was one of two judges that were not licensed attorneys. After retirement, he still worked as a pro tem judge, filling in for vacant positions until 1985, when he permanently retired.
He was active in the Juneau Elks Lodge and served in all the officer positions and became exalted ruler from 1970 to 1971 and served as Alaska State Elks Association president in 1988-89. He was a life member of the Elks and also belonged to the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo No. 6.
In 1966, he and his wife bought property on Mosquito Lake near Haines, cleared the property and hauled all the materials and lumber up to the lake to build their summer recreation cabin. Even though their cabin didn't have running water or electricity, they spent many enjoyable summers there in retirement.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Jean, in June 2006; parents; and sisters, Thelma Boddy, Brownie Bland, Betty Holmes and Shirley Weber.
He is survived by his daughters: Sharon Deja and her husband, Henry, Norma Crosby of Wisconsin, and Linda Crosby of Oregon; sister, Marion Sprague of Nevada; four grandsons; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted by the Elks Lodge at 2 p.m. Monday at the Juneau Pioneer Home, 4675 Glacier Highway.
Donations in memory of Crosby can be made to the JPH Donation Fund at the Juneau Pioneer Home or to a charity of your choice. Family members can be reached through Sharon Deja at 8941 Haffner Ct., Juneau, AK, 99801.
Kathleen M. Carson
Juneau resident Kathleen M. Carson died Jan. 17, 2007, after a 10-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. She was 63.
She was born Dec. 13, 1943, in Hibbing, Minn., to Earl and Arlene Madden. She first moved to Juneau in 1962 and ventured down south in 1974. She then returned to Juneau in 1997, where she lived until her death.
Her family said they all miss her terribly.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Earle Madden Jr., of Virginia, Minn.
She is survived by her children, Lon Carson, Chris Carson, Carmen Magnuson and James Carson, of Juneau, and Tracy Redford, of Battleground, Wash.; siblings, Patricia Spencer, of Douglas, Joan Edwards, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Terry Madden, of Rockford, Minn., Larry Madden, of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Jim Madden, of Chrisolm, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; one great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Glacier Valley Baptist Church, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Coast Guard Buoy Deck at 5 p.m. Any donations can be made to the St. Jude's Cancer Research Center for children.
