Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Susan Roberts
Former Juneau resident Susan Pomeroy Roberts died of heart disease Feb. 8, 2007, in Tucson, Ariz. She was 74.
Born in Oct. 19, 1932 in Dayton, Ohio, she grew up in the suburbs of New York, Chicago and Detroit and graduated from Baldwin High School in Birmingham, Mich., in 1950.
After attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, and traveling in Europe, she married Don Roberts, of Franklin, Mich., in 1953. Don was working as a federal Fish and Wildlife agent in Alaska. They left for Alaska the morning after their wedding, beginning a journey that would span 40 years of marriage and 37 years in the state. The couple lived and raised their four children in many Alaska communities, including Anchorage, Haines, Kodiak, Fairbanks, Juneau, Anchor Point and Homer.
Pomeroy Roberts worked nearly 50 years, primarily as an executive assistant for doctors, lawyers and politicians, including former Alaska Lt. Gov. Lowell Thomas Jr. She lived in Juneau from 1974 to 1977 and again from 1992 to 1994. She was the first female public member of the Alaska Board of Pharmacy and served as its president.
Her family said that she is remembered for her vivid and expansive storytelling; feisty wit and generosity; and love of piano, dolls, martinis, bridge, "New Yorker" magazine, chocolate, watching figure skating, knitting and interior decorating.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998; and her youngest child, Catherine Roberts Miller, in 2004.
She is survived by her daughters, Laury Roberts Scandling and her husband, Bruce, and Wendy Skye Hamilton and her husband, Steve, of Juneau; and son, Rob Roberts and his wife, Stephanie, of Aurora, Colo.; eight grandchildren, including Evan and Rachel Scandling, of Juneau; and four great-grandchildren.
Remembrances can be made to the Salvation Army, 439 W. Willoughby Ave., Juneau, AK, 99801, which helped the family after the 1967 Fairbanks flood.
Faye Nell Forrest
Faye Nell P. Forrest died Feb. 17, 2007, at the Cordova Community Medical Center in Cordova. She was 80.
She was born Sept. 8, 1926, in Carthage, Mo., to Jesse E. and Mary Hodge. She had 13 sisters and brothers. She was raised in Carthage and married Charles Gisel in 1944. The couple had three children: Sheryl, Charles A. Gisel Jr., and Robert Gisel. In 1959, they moved to Juneau, where Charles worked as a helicopter pilot.
In Juneau, she was a checker at Foodland and a school-bus driver. She was active in Eastern Star and PEO, a nonsorority, and was actively involved in Rainbow. Charles died while flying in 1967.
On Dec. 19, 1969, Faye Nell married Linn A. Forrest in Juneau. That marriage increased the family's size by seven more children. The couple continued to make Juneau their home until 1984, when they moved to Colt Island.
They built their home on the island and hunted and fished in the area. Colt Island remained their home until her death.
"She was an avid gardener, was my hunting and fishing partner and my best friend," her husband said. "Together, we raised two of our great-granddaughters from infancy until school age and home-schooled one of our granddaughters on the island. She was known as a gracious hostess by friends, family members and strangers at our home on Colt Island."
She was preceded in death by Charles Gisel; her daughter, Sheryl; and Linn's daughter, Arleta.
She is survived by her husband, Linn Forrest, of Colt Island; children, Charles A. Gisel Jr. of Carthage; Robert Gisel of Los Angeles, Craig Forrest of Homer; Linn A. Forrest III and his wife, Sandy of Pensacola, Fla., Donald Forrest of Stuart, Fla., David Forrest of Juneau, Elaine Jordan of Wasilla, and Steven Forrest of Anchorage; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and sisters and brothers in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
A memorial service will be held by the Juneau chapter of the Eastern Star in early spring. Time and location to be announced.
Maybelle Silva
Long time Petersburg resident, Maybelle Mary (Jackson) Silva died on Jan. 19, 2007. She was 52.
She was born Jan. 31, 1954, in Wrangell, to Ralph M. and Mary M. (Wigg) Jackson. After moving to Petersburg, she met and fell in love with her husband Lewie D. Silva. They got married on June 1, 1973.
"Maybelle was beautiful, brave, full of life, so happy and a champion," said her daughter, Marylene. "She was the greatest wife, mother, champion and best friend ever known to her husband, Lewie, of 34 years, and her four children, Marylene, Luis Jr., Maria and Michaela."
Her favorite things in life, in addition to her family, were listening to music, dancing, singing, shopping for jewelry, making jewelry, sewing, cooking and going outdoors with family to hunt, fish, camp and go on picnics.
"She loved to learn new things and teach her children all that she knew," said Marylene. "She loved life, loved people and loved to make people laugh. Her ultimate calling in life was her family. Her compassion touched many lives and she'll be sorely missed dearly by many."
Her unexpected and untimely death has shocked her family.
"We lost a dear wife, mother, sister, cousin, aunt, great-aunt, niece and best friend," said Marylene. "Maybelle, although she left us so quickly, had faith that we'd be OK and believed with her whole heart in the Lord and that most would find comfort in knowing she was with the Lord looking down at us. Her heart's cry was that all of her family know the lord, live a long healthy life and to remain close to each other."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mary Jackson; brother, Michael Jackson; sister, Sarah Jackson; uncles Sonny Wigg and JR. Wigg; mother and father-in-law, Maria and John Silva Sr.; and sister-in-law, Teodula Silva.
She is survived by her husband, Lewie Silva Sr.; children, Luis Jr., Maria, Michaela of Petersburg, and Marylene of Juneau; sister, Flora Tagaban and her husband, Cliff Sr. of Juneau; brothers, Frank Jackson and his wife, Louise, of Petersburg, Donald Jackson and Ralph Jackson, of Juneau; brother-in-laws, Tony Silva of Seattle, Wash., John Silva Sr. and his wife, Harriet, of Angoon; aunt, Bertha Larson of Wrangell; numerous nieces and nephews from the Silva, Tagaban and Jackson families; and numerous cousins, from the Larson and Wigg families, grandma Virginia Mata and her family, of Ketchikan, Kathy Honey and her family, of Juneau, and the Wery family, of Juneau.
A service was held on Jan. 26 at the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church in Petersburg. She was laid to rest at Petersburg Memorial Cemetery.
The officiating Pastor was Lee Corrao.
Pallbearers were Frank Jackson Sr., Donald Jackson, Clifford Tagaban Sr., Louis Tagaban, Jason Bourgoin, Marvin Jackson, Frank Jackson Jr., and Kyle Skeek.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the Silva family, P.O. Box 58, Petersburg, AK, 99833.
Patricia Ann Erfurt
Juneau resident Patricia Ann (Nauska) Erfurt died April 23, 2007, in Juneau. She was 36.
She was born July 3, 1970, in Kake to Fredrick C. Nauska Sr., and Phyllis J. Nauska. She attended Wrangell High School and the University of Alaska Southeast. She was an administration clerk for the state of Alaska.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Edna (Nauska) Ettinger.
She is survived by her children, Trevor L. Harding, Kaylee D. Nauska, Elijah Nauska and Danelle Nauska; and siblings, Deanna A. Jackson, Camille Cooper, Ginger Gruwell, George Martin, Angela James, Fredrick C. Nauska Jr., and Barbara L. Nauska.
Services will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Church of God in Juneau. Donations can be dropped off at 8416 Canyon Drive in Juneau.
