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Shelton B. Miller
Former Kenai resident Shelton B. Miller died Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at a hospital in Tyler, Texas. He was 80.
Mr. Miller, who lived in Williston, S.C., was visiting his son when he was hospitalized for heart problems.
A memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church of Williston and CMS. He was buried with full military honors at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, S.C.
Mr. Miller was born May 4, 1921, in Bolair, W.Va. He retired from the Air Force after serving 32 years in military service, including time stationed in Kenai. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Mr. Miller was proud to be a Christian and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Williston. He also was a member of the Presidential prayer team. He spent his life focused on God, his country and his family.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Taz Miller of Williston; sons, David Miller of Fairbanks, Greg Miller of Palmer, Bart Miller of Whitehouse, Texas, and John Miller of Corpus Christi, Texas; three brothers; two sisters; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Folk Funeral Home Inc. in Williston, S.C.
Emma Josephine 'Jo' Godes
Soldotna resident Emma Josephine "Jo" Godes died Sunday, April 14, 2002, at Heritage Place in Soldotna. She was 70.
A memorial Mass will be held today at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Soldotna. Father Richard Tero will officiate. A potluck dinner will follow immediately at J Bar B Club. To attend, call Pam at 262-9887. Mrs. Godes' ashes will be scattered with her husband's in a place where they both enjoyed a beautiful view of the mountains and water together.
Mrs. Godes was born Sept. 30, 1931, in Ellensburg, Wash. She graduated from high school. She moved from Washington to Soldotna in 1960 and began working for the U.S. Postal Service. She moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1967, then returned to Soldotna in 1975 and the post office in 1976. She retired in 1993.
She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. She also was a longtime member of the Soldotna Lions Club and VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, flower gardening and bowling.
"Mother will be most remembered as a smiling face behind the post office counter and as a loyal supporter of the service to others through her involvement in the Lions Club, " her family said,
Mrs. Godes was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Godes, in 1995.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Holly Godes and Terry and Cindy Godes; daughters and sons-in-law, Annette and Clyde Langlinais and Toni and Michael Webber; grandchildren, Amanda, Mariah, Megan, Alyssa, Beanna, Teal and Misa; sister, Darlene Tachick; brother, Guy Younie; niece, Allison Darsey; nephew, Jack Darsey; great-niece, Jessica Darsey; and numerous nieces and nephews living outside Alaska.
Memorial donations may be sent to Steven Godes, 26205 125th Place SE, Kent, WA 98031.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
John Byron Alexander
Kasilof resident John Byron Alexander died Thursday, April 11, 2002, at his home on Tustumena Lake Road. He was 64.
A large memorial gathering was held Saturday at the Decanter Inn.
Mr. Alexander was born July 19, 1937, in Portland, Ore. He was raised in Oregon, where he worked in various family businesses, including logging, excavation and fishing. He received his master's degree at Oregon State University and traveled through the western states working as a geologist, moving to Anchorage in 1969.
After touring the Kenai Peninsula on vacation, Mr. Alexander and his family relocated to Clam Gulch and operated the Clam Shell Lodge through the late 1970s. He moved to Kasilof in 1979 and lived there until his death.
Mr. Alexander was a fixture along the Sterling Highway for many years. He was a vocal member of the Republican Party, known for his ability to argue any side of any issue, and his willingness to do so at any time. His interest in all things with engines or wheels added to his mechanical skills over the years, which left him able to make almost any vehicle move, even if his tool kit only contained duct tape and baling wire.
"Byron was generous to a fault with his skills and knowledge, and his brand of advise, help and humor will be missed in the Kasilof community he called home for the past 25 years, " has family said.
Mr. Alexander is survived by daughters Holly Kelty and Machelle Durdahl of Anchorage; niece, Kirsten Alexander-Staggenborg of Coos Bay, Ore.; and nephew, Bruce Alexander of Albany, Ore.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, 33955 Community Drive, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Debra Levon Koski-Southwick
Longtime Soldotna resident Debra Levon Koski-Southwick died April 14, 2002, at Heritage Place in Soldotna following a lengthy illness. She was 48.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. Pastor Cameron Dockery will officiate. A reception will follow the service at the Soldotna Senior Center.
Mrs. Southwick was born Oct. 27, 1953, in Sedro Wooley, Wash. She was adopted by Joe and Jean Koski at the age of 5 months. When she was 6 years old, she moved to Alaska with her family. She attended school at Tustumena, Anchorage and Soldotna. She graduated form Kenai Central High School in 1972. She worked various jobs in the restaurant industry.
"Debra had a kind and loving heart. She liked doing things for others. She loved crafts. She will be missed very much by her loved ones. Her mission on earth was finished and God called, " her family said.
Mrs. Southwick is survived by her husband, Dale; sons, Charles of Soldotna and Richard of Spokane, Wash. She is also survived by her parents, Joe and Jean Koski; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Christine Koski; nephews, Brian and Keary; nieces, Catherine and Laura Koski; aunts, uncles and cousins. She is also survived by her biological family in Washington, with whom she was reunited a couple of years ago.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Sherman Lee "Buck" Manley
Sherman Lee "Buck" Manley died Wednesday, April 10, 2002. He was 86.
Funeral services were held April 15, 2002, at the Chapel of Richard Pierce Funeral Service in Napa, Calif.
Mr. Manley was born in Adair, Okla. He worked as a teamster in Napa for 20 years. He also worked as a cowboy, rodeo rider and stuntman in Nevada. From 1977 until 1995, he worked with his nephews Bruce and John Manley as a Cook Inlet commercial setnet fisher.
He made many close friends in Alaska, including longtime friend Florence Munger of Kenai.
"Buck loved to be around family and was well known for his appetite for pie and potato salad. Family and friends were always entertained by his rope tricks, " his family said.
Mr. Manley was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Gladys Evelyn Acrec, Ruby Love, Bruce Manley, Delbert Manley, Jack Manley and Dorothy Vital.
He is survived by his sister, Phyllis Manley of Sebastopol, Calif.; two brothers, Charlie of Napa and Gordon of Grass Valley, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Justin Hogue
Lifelong Kenai resident and University of Nevada Reno student, Justin Hogue, died Saturday, March 9, 2002, in Reno as a result of an automobile accident. He was 19.
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Renee Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School. Pastor Jon Walters will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Mr. Hogue was born on Oct. 26, 1982, in Soldotna. He grew up in Kenai and graduated from Kenai Central High School in 2001. He was attending his first year of college in Nevada.
He was an outstanding Kenai athlete, playing hockey, football, throwing discus and shot-put. He was also a record-holding weightlifter at KCHS.
Mr. Hogue worked as a commercial fisherman each summer with his grandparents and uncle. He also loved computers and was an avid reader. He was studying computer science at the University of Nevada Reno.
"Justin was especially proud of his entrepreneurial spirit. He liked to tease and joke with his family and friends. Justin liked to hang out with his friends, including his best buddies, Sepa Nicholas and Doug Bookey, " his family said.
Mr. Hogue is survived by his parents, Teri and Ralph "Corky" Hogue of Kenai; his brother, Jacob Hogue of Kenai; grandparents, Jan and Brock See of Kasilof and Keith and Melinda Hutchins of Sedona, Ariz.; grandmother, Betty Hogue of Rossville, Ga.; aunts and uncles, Randy and Gypsy Hogue, Vicky Brantley, Ron and Cheri Hogue, Lisa Moore, Shelly Hutchins, Lori and Mike Fuller, Kami and Jimmie Froehlich, Suzi Hutchins, Anthony and Brandy See and Alayne Primo; and cousins, Stacy, Brandi, Lindsy, Jody, Jeff, Daniel, Paul, Gillian, Simon, Morgan, Tyler, Kendall, Storme, Hannah and Ayden.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Donald Leroy Burns Sr.
Donald Leroy Burns Sr. died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 76.
At the family's request, no services have been planned.
Mr. Burns was born July 28, 1925, in Salinas, Calif., in Monterey County. He served in the U. S. Army in the 1940s and then worked with Northwestern Pacific Railroad in Northern California for 40 years as a locomotive engineer. He retired in 1988 in Petaluma, Calif., and moved to Alaska in 1990.
His hobbies included fishing, hunting and bird watching.
Mr. Burns is survived by his wife, Alma E. Burns; two sons, Donald L. Burns Jr. of Soldotna and James A. Burns of Mount Shasta, Calif.; one daughter, Deborah L. Burns of Sutton; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Juanita Belle (Van Ronk) Benson
Juanita Belle (Van Ronk) Benson died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at South Peninsula Hospital. She was 73.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. April 5 at First Missionary Baptist Church in Seldovia with the Rev. Clint Buck presiding. Per Benson's wishes, she was cremated and her ashes will be scattered in the mountains above Seldovia among fields of flowers.
Ms. Benson was born Oct. 7, 1929, in Pismo Beach, Calif. She grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains around Mt. Lassen, Calif. Her parents owned Lassen View Lodge in the 1930s and 1940s. As a girl she enjoyed riding her horses.
She moved to Seldovia in 1972, where she enjoyed her children and grandchildren, picking blueberries, gardening and watching baseball (especially the Atlanta Braves). She was always feeding the birds, pheasants and stray kitties. Ms. Benson loved her kitties. For years she made beautiful guardian angel ornaments, Eskimo ornaments and kayakers that she taught two of her daughters to make. She gathered flowers and plants from the forest floor to make her famous potpourri. Benson also enjoyed her church and Bible study.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Tata Wheeler of Seldovia; five daughters and sons-in-laws, Cassie and Steve Chmielowiec of Anchor Point, Barbara and Joe Carlough Sr. of Seldovia, Toni and Wayne Barrowcliff of Homer, Cherie Jo Kuehn of Wasilla and Betty Jo Cotter of Sacramento, Calif.; grandchildren and spouses, Laura Wheeler of Seldovia, Tisha Wheeler of South Africa, Wesley Wheeler and Daisy Wheeler of California, Darrell Wheeler of Seldovia, Jess Cooley of Soldotna, Sean and Judy King of Anchorage, Autumn Barrowcliff of Homer, Athena and Dave Edens of Homer, Luke and Jason Carlough of Kenai, Christy Carlough of Wasilla and Courtney, Heather, Baily and Christian Cotter of Sacramento; great-grandchildren Landen Joseph Carlough (Dewitt) of Kenai; Gavin Shaleen Elvsaas of Seldovia and Brian and Hunter Edens of Homer.
Arrangements were by made Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Sally Bailie
Kenai resident Sally Bailie died peacefully at home in the arms of her loving family on Saturday, May 11, 2002.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2002, at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai. Father Richard Tero will officiate at the service.
Mrs. Bailie was born March 25, 1939, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She met and married the love of her life, Chuck Bailie, in 1960. She then earned her R.N. degree from St. Katherine School of Nursing in 1961.
Her adventure in Alaska began in 1962, when she moved with her husband and new family, first to Cordova and finally to Kenai, where she made her home until the time of her death.
Mrs. Bailie contributed to her community through service as a Kenai City Council member, United Way and Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center board member. Her love of Kenai was evident through her volunteerism in helping Kenai become an All-American City in 1992.
As a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, she sat on the parish council, sang in the choir and gave herself whenever a need arose to help others.
Her family said, "Sally Bailie was a source of strength, wisdom, forgiveness and abiding love to all who knew her, and her spiritual gifts will remain a rich legacy for her family. She rejoiced in being a wife and mother, she always knew that her family, friends, community and her faith, brought her life its true wealth. To all who knew her, she was an angel whose blessing will continue to light and guide their lives."
Mrs. Bailie is survived by her husband, Chuck; four daughters, Patti Shake and her husband, Robert; Kris Bailie, Mary Copple and her husband, Christopher, and Tracy Knowlton and her husband, Jeffrey; 14 precious grandchildren; and her brother, Patrick Toohey and sisters-in-law, Kathy and Joan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of the Central Peninsula, 312 Tyee St. No. 3, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangement were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
