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Boyd C. Worley, Jr.
Sept. 1940 - Sept. 2013
Boyd C. Worley, Jr. the Skagway community’s “Large-in-Charge” died on September 27, 2013. Worley had been home recovering from a collapsed artery in his quadruple by-pass in August. In the words of one of his care-givers, “His heart of gold just wore out.” What follows is Boyd’s obituary:
Boyd Conrad Worley, Jr. was born on September 11, 1940 in Buchanan, Virginia and was raised in Richmond. He had one younger brother, Thomas, and four sisters, Peggy, Cookie, Doris and Kitty.
Boyd graduated from Thomas Dale High School in June 1968. He joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1959 and was Honorably Discharged on June 6, 1966.
In 1963, Boyd attended the Yale University Institute of Far Eastern Languages studying Mandarin Chinese. He went on to complete the four-year course in nine months.
While in New Haven, Connecticut, he met a beautiful young woman named Jean Nakamura. Jean was in Connecticut studying to be a teacher.
The day Boyd approached Jean was July 10, 1963, which happened to be her birthday. That night Boyd and Jean went to a movie. After leaving the theater and passing a row of jewelry stores, Boyd asked Jean: “What ring would you buy?” Jean told him: “I don’t wear jewelry.”
Boyd persisted: “But, if you did wear jewelry, what ring would you buy?” So Jean pointed out one that contained her birth stone ruby.
Boyd then asked her: “What watch would you buy?”
Jean told him: “I don’t wear watches.”
Again Boyd persisted: “If you did wear a watch, which one would you buy?” Jean then pointed to one just to “make him be quiet, ”
The next day, after Jean was leaving work at a restaurant, Boyd was there with the ring and the watch. Seven months later, Boyd and Jean were married on January 1, 1964.
This January would have been their 50th anniversary.
Jean always wondered why Boyd worked so fast, and just last month she asked him, “Why would you get me a ring and a watch a day after you met me?” Boyd said: “I knew you were the one and I didn’t want to lose you.”
They eventually had four children: Kevin, Scott, Stephanie and JoAnne and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jean would joke with Boyd each Father’s Day: “One of these four is actually yours.” The family had a lot of fun guessing each year.
Boyd came to Alaska in 1972 after transferring from his job at Japan Airlines in Hawaii. While in Anchorage, he changed careers and went to work with U.S. Customs in 1974.
Meanwhile, Jean was having a hard time with the winters. She was homesick for Hawaii and realized later that she was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Jean told Boyd she couldn’t take another winter in Anchorage. She asked Boyd, “Who would move from paradise in Hawaii to Alaska?”
Then, in 1976, Boyd came to Skagway on temporary assignment for U.S. Customs. He met locals such as Bea Lingle, Kurt Kosters, Charlotte Jewell, Lainey Papageorge
and Debbie Mahle. Boyd told Jean how nice and friendly everyone was.
“I found paradise for you, we’re moving to Skagway!” he said.
They moved here permanently in September 1976 and Skagway has never been the same, thank God!
Boyd was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd C. Worley, Sr. and Pearl Hunt Worley, his older sister, Peggy Worley, his younger brother, Thomas Owen Worley, and younger sister, Esther Cookie Steinmetz. He is survived by younger sisters: Doris (and Dan Bailey) Worley, Kitty (and Charles Mills) Worley, Tommy’s wife, Mary Worley, Cookie’s husband, John Steinmetz, and numerous nieces and nephews; four children: Kevin (and Kim Murphy Sanders) Worley, Scott (and Roseanne Perotto) Worley, Stephanie (and Scott Halama) Worley and JoAnne Worley; twelve grandchildren: Jarid (and Savannah Price) Worley, Marissa (and Jamaal Bailey) Worley: Michael (and Gretchen Schott) Sanders, Kristin Sanders, Kaylin “K.K.” Sanders, Melissa Halama Hall, Sarah Halama, Bryce Jones and Jayne Grace Eddy; five great-grandchildren: Jared Worley, Brailyn Marie Worley (our little Beemer), A’Rhiyana Maake Worley, Noah Halama and Kael Conrad Leighton Eddy.
Paul Knapp
July 1928 - June 2014
Former long-time Skagway resident Paul Knapp has died. Knapp was born on July 2, 1928 in Libby, Montana to Albert Earl and Mary Phoebe (McMullan) Knapp. He passed away on June 6, 2014 in Geary, Oklahoma at the age of 85.
Paul lived in Plains, Montana and moved to Skagway, Alaska in 1960. He retired from the White Pass & Yukon Railroad and moved to Greenfield, Oklahoma in 2000. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Skagway. Paul served in the US Army.
Survivors Include: his brothers: Richard Knapp of Omaha, NE, and David Knapp of Graham, WA; his sisters: Mary Lou Moe of Juneau, AK, and Joyce Burnham of Skagway, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary Knapp, and nine brothers.
Memorial Services will be held at a later date at the Elks Lodge #431, 560 State St, Skagway, AK 99840
Services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Geary, Oklahoma.
James M. ‘Bud’ Matthews
April 1922 - January 2015
James M. “Bud” Matthews, 92, Skagway’s oldest male resident, died on January 14 in Juneau.
Born James Max Matthews Sr. in Saint Michael, Alaska in 1922, he was nicknamed “Bud” as the oldest child in a family of eight children. Shortly thereafter he moved with his family to Ft. William Seward in Haines, where his father served in the Army. He graduated from Haines Public School, and then the family moved to Skagway.
He was a WWII Veteran and served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman on Liberty ships in the Asiatic-Pacific, European Mid-Africa and the American Area. After the war he worked as a longshoreman for the White Pass and Yukon Railroad until his retirement in 1982. He and his wife Mona owned and operated the historical Skagway Inn for several years.
Although he was well known by many and respected for his great generosity he remained humble. All the locals and out-of-town visitors were welcome to use his beach at Nahku Bay (Long Bay), hike through the woods, and collect water from Matthews’ Creek. As a volunteer he frequented the Senior Center to play his fiddle and mandolin. His concern for others in his community resulted in numerous activities and good-will gestures.
As a charismatic and quick-witted gentleman he befriended many. He was an avid musician, visual artist, cartoonist and was recognized as the town’s most diligent walker.
His grandson Richard writes that “he was one of the greatest men I’ve known and he lived the life you only read about in books. … he even ran a lawnmower repair business out of an old caboose in his backyard. He knew all the waitresses in town and they all loved his humor and kindness. We will miss you but never forget.”
Surviving relatives: brother Floyd Matthews of Skagway and his son Scott and grandson Michael Ennist; sister Phyllis Prather of Kenai and children Debra Wood, Rhonda Grossman, James Dick, Darcie Larson, and Karmyn Dick ; son James Matthews Jr. of Kenai and his daughters Amber Frizzell and Christy Ruby; son Gary Sapp and his daughters Stacy Koetje and Pam Sivertsen; daughter Tanis S’eiltin of Bellingham, WA. and her children Richard Hinsley and Vanessa Omer; nephews and nieces Gene Clark, Lloyd and Penny Sullivan, and Patty, Tommy and Hall Matthews, and many great grandchildren.
A memorial will be announced at a later date.
Michael ‘Dr. D’ Dickens
Former Skagway School Superintendent Michael Gregory Dickens, 65, fortified with the sacraments of the Catholic Church, began his new life of everlasting joy and peace on Dec. 26, 2014.
Michael is survived by his wife, Monica, his much loved children Tony (Katrina) Dickens and Amanda (Rob) Pittman, sister, Gina (Dick) Gerkin brother, Thom Longenecker, his sisters-in-law, Doris (Dick) Young, Helen (Bill) Gansler, Marian (Larry) Mitchell, and Elaine (Rafael)Take. He has 16 nieces and nephews, 28 great-nieces and nephews, 1 great-great nephew and many friends.
His extended family included the schools: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glendale, AZ, Brevig Mission and Unalakleet School (Bering Strait School District), Alaska, Ketchikan School District, and Skagway City School. Parishes: St. Steven's, Sun Lakes, AZ and St. Therese’s, Skagway, AK.
Michael was a teacher, principal, superintendent, Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus at St. Steven’s Parish, and friend to many. Michael earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Michael was very proud of his children, Tony and Amanda. As a family, they traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Europe and Africa. He spent hours listening to his nieces and nephews and shared many an amusement park adventure with them.
Michael enjoyed being with the students in the classes he taught and administering to the staff. He was kind, funny, wore crazy ties, and in his pant pocket one could hear his tic tacs jingling. Michael always began school days with a warm greeting for the day “Happy Monday!”
To know Michael was to know kindness, the joy of living and a man who loved to travel and share a tasty meal. He was a wonderful listener. Michael loved music especially operas and passed from this life to the next listening to the music he enjoyed. We are all better people to have shared a part of his life story.
ln celebration of his life, a memorial mass will be held at St. Steven’s Catholic Church, Sun Lakes, AZ (TBA) and in St. Louis, MO. Arizona Organ and Science Care donor. Private internment in St. Louis, MO. Contributions to Notre Dame Mission Crusade (Honduras), 320 E. Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125 or St. Steven’s Knights of Columbus in Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.
Quayanna, merci, gracias, thank you.
Lynette Celia Roseberg
April 1970 - January 2015
Lynette Roseberg, age 44, formerly of Skagway, went home to the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 6, 2015 after a battle with an aggressive, metastic cancer. Her body is now fully healed and she is healthy, happy and whole again!
Lynette was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Eugene and Miriam Wedlake on April 19, 1970 and was raised in Tucson, AZ. After graduating high school in 1988, she enrolled at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where she attended a job fair and was hired to work on board the MV Fairweather for Westours during the 1991 summer season. While in Skagway, she met the love of her life, Tim Roseberg of Skagway, a tugboat captain, and they built their family, life, and home there after marrying in Makena, Maui, Hawaii.
Lynette worked in Skagway at Fairway Market, Mabel G. Smiths and then at Alaska Power and Telephone for many years until Tim and Lynette moved their family to Oak Harbor, Washington in late 2009. She was a board member and past president of the Skagway Chamber of Commerce, an Emblem Club member and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Skagway, where she was involved in many ministries and taught Sunday school.
After moving to Oak Harbor, Lynette served as a volunteer teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School for a year, then was hired at what she considered her dream job: Ministries Coordinator at First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor, where she built many relationships with the young and old alike and was involved in all aspects of the daily operation of the church there. Lynette was also an enthusiastic member of Soroptomist International of Oak Harbor, a group of women who volunteer their time to advance opportunities for underprivileged women and girls. She was a rabid sports fan, having been converted by Tim (over many years) into cheering for the Washington Huskies over her hometown Arizona Wildcats. She was also a relentless fan of the Seahawks and Mariners, and attended several games before and after moving to Washington.
Lynette is survived by her husband Tim, daughters Nikita (20) and Johanna (13), of Oak Harbor, WA., parents Kent and Miriam Engel, sister Michelle Wedlake all of Tucson, AZ., along with aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces in Georgia, New Jersey and Florida.
A moving and emotional celebration of Lynette’s life was held at First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor on January 17, 2015 with her pastor, co-worker and friend, Matt Waite presiding. Her big, beautiful smiles, her laughter, love for Jesus, and gracious character will be forever missed by all who knew her. Although she left us way too soon, we will forever be blessed to have had her in our lives. She laid the foundation as a mom, and a wife, along with a legacy of faith and service to others, for the rest of us to continue to live by. Thank you Skagway for all the prayers, cards, visits and phone calls during this difficult time!
Jerild “Jerry” Alan O’Connor
Jerry, oldest son of Blanche O’Connor, was born on April 29, 1944 and died November 15, 2000 in Nome. Jerry spent summers at Salmon Lake and winters in Nome. His Grandma, Irene O’Connor, and Auntie Matilda Jones helped watch him when he was a little boy while his mother worked. He grew up with his cousin and playmate, Janet Trigg, whom he considered his sister. When Jerry was a young boy, he had scarlet fever that left him nearly deaf, with a speech impediment and with epilepsy. At the age of six, Blanche sent him to Washington to attend a school for deaf children because there was nothing available in Alaska.
At the age of 12, Jerry moved to Fairbanks to live with Luther and Helenka Brice. The Brices made sure Jerry visited his family in Nome each year. Both families, the Walters (O’Connors) and the Brices, were blessed to have Jerry as a son and brother. Helenka, who Jerry called “Mither, ” cared very much for him. She home schooled him and taught him the skills that made him independent. Jerry loved Helenka dearly, and they were so close they were inseparable. When Jerry would say “I got to go love Mither, ” it meant he was going to go help her do chores.
Jerry returned to Nome for Christmas in 1977 to live with Mom and Papa Walters for a few years. In 1981 Jerry moved to his own home in the Senior Citizens Apartments and lived independently since then.
Jerry began his career by working for Brice, Inc. on different road and airport construction jobs in the Fairbanks area. The first year in Nome he worked as a janitor for Fagerstrom Janitorial. He was employed by Nome Public Schools as a janitor at the Nonitor for 11 years. For nearly four years he was employed by Fort Davis Roadhouse as a dishwasher. Needless to say, Jerry knew his work very well.
Jerry demonstrated a strong work ethic and took pride in all that he did. He wasn’t afraid to speak up if other workers weren’t doing their job right. If Jerry was to do the job he made sure it was done it right. He knew what products worked best; he’d buy the products and convince his employer that they were needed.
Fishing was Jerry’s passion; folks who would take him fishing had better plan to stay for a while. He made jewelry for his family and friends out of rocks he collected. He taught himself about weather patterns and was quite a weather predictor. He enjoyed taking pictures of friends and family. During the summer he could be seen flying all kinds of colorful kites that attracted people of all ages.
Jerry had no children of his own, e made sure family birthdays and anniversaries were put in the Nome Community Calendar. He kept anything that had pictures or articles of family members and close friends.
Jerry is survived by his mother, Blanche, who now lives in Fairbanks; aunt Grace Johnson of Anchorage; uncle Eddie O’Connor of New Mexico; brothers John Fern of Washington, Michael O’Connor of Kodiak, Robert O’Connor and Olaf Walters of Nome, Al, Sam, Thom and Andy Brice of Fairbanks; sisters Lorena “Sis” (O’Connor) Hegdal of Fairbanks, Noreene (Walters) Leavitt of Anchorage; and his close friends John and Pearl Mikulski of Nome. He was preceded in death by his brothers Erik and George Walters and Lonnie O’Connor; parents John Walters, Luther and Helenka Brice of Fairbanks; grandparents “Duffy” and Irene O’Connor; uncles Roy and George O’Connor; and aunts Mary Ann Hicklin and Matilda Jones.
Services were held on November 21, 2000 at the Church of the Nazarene. The Family will have a reunion in July 2001 at Salmon Lake in celebration of Jerry’s life.
Sympathy cards may be sent to Blanche Walters at 3221 Eagan Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99701.
John Andrew Kubanyi
John Andrew Kubanyi, 71, a long-time Alaskan, died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on January 20, 2001. John was born April 6, 1929 in City Island, New York, to his French parents, Victor and Arlette Kubanyi. In 1947, John studied a map to see where the farthest place was that he could drive to get away from the NYPD. John, accompanied by his friend, Frank Gregory, traveled the Alcan to Fairbanks, Alaska in a Model A. In the late 1940’s John worked in Barrow for Arctic Contractors looking for oil on the cat trains. He served in the U.S. Army in Alaska during the Korean War. John married Nora Lisbourne of Pt. Hope, Alaska, in April 1952. In the late 50’s he worked on the Dew Line Sites. From 1961—1974, he worked at Clear Air Force Base. In 1974, he began working on the Trans Alaska Pipeline, until his retirement in 1977.
In September 2000, John received a 50-year service pin with the Laborer’s Local #942. John was a staunch Republican, a pilot and an avid outdoorsman. He traveled all over Alaska in his plane fishing and hunting every animal Alaska had to offer and was always accompanied by his sons. Every spring he would go whaling with the Inupiat in Pt. Hope. He spent his retirement years at his home in Fairbanks and his hunting cabin on a lake on the Rex Trail near Clear He also traveled extensively with his special companion, Caroline Reader of Nome.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Nora; his parents, his stepfather, Matt Sturges; his friend, Gertrude Goodwin, and his sister, Marie-Claire Khalfi.
John is survived by his sons, Jimmy and Don Kubanyi of Clear, Victor and Bobby Kubanyi of Fairbanks; daughters, Aileen (Babe) Welton, her husband, Don (Stringbean), Doris Kubanyi and her husband Brian Baggett and Arlette Kubanyi all of Fairbanks, and Piquk Tuzroyluk and her husband, Rex of Pt. Hope; his special friends, Caroline Reader, Shorty Thibedeau, Frank Gregory, Don Ilgenfritz, Charles Mahlen Sr., Warren and Mae Thompson and Sumner Weed; 15 grandchildren, Sheena, Matt, Arlette, NoraRose, Victor and Vanessa Kubanyi; Dawn and Brandon Welton; Michael, Keith, Daisy (Panik) and Guy Tuzroyluk; Jaime and Taylor Ness and Mikayla Baggett; three great grandchildren Kimmialuk, Michael Ricky Jr. and Asisaun Tuzroyluk of Pt. Hope.
John has been cremated and his ashes will be tossed into the sea off Pt. Hope to join with his late wife’s ashes and at his hunting cabin. At John’s request, there will be no services. John’s family invites everyone who knew him to a celebration of his life on Friday, January 26, 2001 at 6 P.M. at Wickersham Banquet Hall, 107 Wickersham Street. The family asks for everyone to please bring a dinner dish.
In closing, John said his death would bring him a smile forever because he would know that the IRS would never receive another cent of his.
Former Adjutant General
Ed Pagano
Gov. Tony Knowles ordered state flags lowered to half-staff January 24 and 25 in memory of Major General Edward G. Pagano. The former Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard and Commissioner of the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs during Sheffield’s Administration died Saturday, January 20, at the age of 74.
Born in the Aleut village of Unga on April 22, 1926, Pagano began his service as an Army Private during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device and a Purple Heart for his actions during the battle for Okinawa. He also earned numerous other awards and decorations during his nearly four decades of military service.
After the war, Pagano entered college and earned a degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State College. Upon graduation, he served tours of duty with both the Alaska Army National Guard and on extended active duty with the Selective Service in Juneau, Denver, Chicago and Philadelphia.
He served in United States Army until his retirement in June of 1982, when he accepted Gov. Sheffield’s invitation to become the first Native Alaskan to serve as Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. In that role, Pagano was responsible for more than 4, 000 soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and militia members located in 110 villages across Alaska.
Darryl Trigg, 72
Darryl Trigg of Nome died peacefully at the age of 72 at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage on July 18, 2006.
A memorial service was on July 21 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
An additional memorial service was July 26 in Nome.
Born on Nov. 13, 1933, in Seattle, Wash., to Nellie and Jerome Trigg Sr., he moved to Nome at 2 years old and had lived in Alaska since. He attended schools in Nome, Anchorage and Mount Edgecumbe, but he received his general education diploma as he served in the U.S. Army.
He married Lucie Okpealuk on Oct. 2, 1958.
After his discharge in 1958 from the Army, he worked as a heavy equipment operator for the state of Alaska and the Alaska pipeline.
He was an active board member of Norton Sound Health Corp., Alaska Native Health Board, Arctic Native Brotherhood, Nome Eskimo Community and the American Legion.
And he was one of the first ambulance drivers for Alaska Native Services.
He enjoyed spending time with people, going out in the country, fishing and cleaning his wife’s fish catch, and cooking blueberry pancakes, chili and spaghetti for family gatherings.
He collected silver dollars and would use them as tips while traveling on business trips.An active team player on the Nome Pool League, he was well known statewide as the “Eskimo Cowboy.”
He is survived by his wife, Lucie, of Nome; children, Jon and Marie Trigg, Eric Trigg and Maria Angasan; siblings, Gerald Trigg, Jerome Trigg Jr. and Shirley Nickalosky; grandchildren, Yannita and Fred Jay Ivanoff, Sherry, Nellie, Micah, Jared and Teresa Trigg, Shawn, Ethan, Hunter Angasan and Paul Okitkon;as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins; great-grandchildren, Makiyan, Arctic and Colton Ivanoff; and stepmother, Barbara Trigg and children Julie, Darlene, Ralph and John.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Barbara Trigg, and brother, William Trigg.
Arrangements were made with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
