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Matthew D. Nelson
Bethel resident Matthew D. Nelson drowned Wednesday, May 22, 2002, in Bethel. He was 17.
A gathering of friends and family was held Friday, July 19, at 1 p.m. and a funeral was held at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage. The burial will be a noon today at the Seward cemetery. Pallbearers will be Buz Daney, Mark Wagner, Daniel Ayagarak, Larry Nelson and Xavier Nash.
Nelson was born Dec. 21, 1984, in Bethel to David B. and Nancy J. Nelson. He was a member of the Native Youth Olympics and a song and drum leader for Duldomi Youth Drum in Kenai.
He graduated from high school in 2002 with nine college credits and was working as a library clerk in Bethel at Kuskokwim Community College.
Nelson was preceded in death by his father in March 1999.
He is survived by his mother of Kenai; sister, Bobbie of Anchorage; brother, Brian Abraham Collman of Seward; half-sisters Abigail Ayagarak and Sheilah Unin, both of Anchorage; half-brother, Daniel Ayagarak of Anchorage; grandmothers, Anna J. Nelson of Seward and Aggie Ayagarak of Anchorage; aunts and uncles, Bobby and Dora Nelson of Kenai, Don and Mary Nelson of Seward, Charles and Sara Nelson of Grayland, Wash., Ron and Afton Nelson of West Port, Wash., Joe and Judy Nelson of Midway, Utah, and Larry Nelson of Anchorage; and many friends and relatives, including Joe and Nancy Ayagarak Jr., Herman Ayagarak, Buz and Linda Daney, Mildred Russell, Norma and Edgar Tunutmook, Franklin and Agatha Ulroan, Theresa Chimiralrea and Maxine and Vincent Joseph.
Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage.
Benonia Trent Long
Kenai resident Benonia Trent Long died Sunday, July 7, 2002, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 61.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Kenai Christian Church with Robert Devolld officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.
Mr. Long was born July 16, 1940, in Marion, Ind. He attended school in Indiana and Florida and had been a resident of Alaska since 1970, living in Eagle River and Talkeetna and moving to Kenai in 1979. He was self-employed for many years until he retired in 1993 due to illness. Trent attended Kenai Christian Church.
His hobbies included fishing, camping, clam digging, gardening, playing golf and watching softball.
"Trent was an easygoing man who never met a stranger. He always had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes for his family and friends. He was happiest on the river bank fishing, and he always caught many fish because we felt he thought like a fish. Trent will be loved and missed, " his family said.
Survivors include his wife, Melonee Long; his mother, Helen Zornow; sisters, Eva Jo Border and Nancy Huesman; brothers, Kevin Long, Marshall Long and Howard Zornow; children, Lynn McKiernan, Tina Tassin, Tammy Parris, Trent Long II, Trent Long III and Katrena Leuthold; grandchildren, Shelia, Daniel, Brittany, Joshua, Kyle, Konnagher, Amanda, Alexander, Ian and Nathaniel; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of one's choice.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Vivian L. M. Cole
Nikiski resident Vivian L. M. Cole died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. She was 52.
A celebration of life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at the home of Dan and Marla Gregory. For information about the service, please call 776-8697.
Ms. Cole was born July 26, 1949, in Bethel. She received a majority of her education before moving to Anchorage, where she graduated from East High School. She also graduated from Kenai Peninsula Community College. She moved to Nikiski in 1973 and worked as a lab technician for BP Exploration for 25 years.
She loved gardening, books, sewing and fishing in Homer and on the Kenai River.
Her family wrote, "Vivian was warm, kind, intelligent, caring, supportive and was the most loving mother, sister, daughter and friend. Her family and friends she held in the highest importance each and every day. These relationships brought her the most joy throughout her life with us."
Ms. Cole is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Robert and Joanie Cole of Anchorage; son David Cole of Nikiski and his fiancee Elena Chebotareva; sister and brother-in-law Marla and Dan Gregory of Nikiski; granddaughter, Nancie Cole of Anchorage; niece and nephew-in-law, Mandy and Tim Doherty of Nikiski; and her grandfather, John "Datu" Samuelson of Bethel.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Mark Anthony Denham
North Kenai resident Mark Anthony Denham died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001, at his residence after a battle with cancer. He was 42.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the North Kenai Baptist Church. Pastor Denver Copeland will officiate.
Mr. Denham was born June 20, 1958, in Wichita, Kan. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1988. He and his wife, Shirley, moved to Alaska in 1991.
According to Mr. Denham's family, he liked to cook, eat, camp, hunt and fish and enjoyed the simple things in life. Mr. Denham was an active member of North Kenai Baptist Church. He served on the children's bus ministry and loved the children. He loved worship music and reading the Bible.
"Mark was a devoted husband and loyal friend. He had a gift for cooking and a great sense of humor, " Mr. Denham's family said. "Mark's happiest times were spent in the kitchen with family and friends. He prepared delicious and sometimes indescribable recipes.
"Mark enjoyed sharing how much his life changed when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1996. He continued to share his faith and testimony to others even to the end. Mark reassured his family members that God would take care of them in his absence."
Mr. Denham is survived by his wife of 11 years, Shirley of North Kenai; mother, Emma Shipman of Wichita, Kan.; children, Andy Denham of Batesville, Ark., and Daniel Denham of Germany; stepdaughter, Shanna Humphrey of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; stepson, Tommy Harris of Dallas, Texas; sisters, Millie of Batesville, Ark., Lynn, Roberta and Lee, all of Wichita, Kan.; brother, Roy Denham of Oklahoma; granddaughters, Sheyenne and Abby, plus a granddaughter who is due to arrive in May; and his aunts, Edna of Batesville, Ark., and Helen of Covina, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent the North Kenai Baptist Church, P.O. Box 7496, Nikiski, Alaska 99635.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Karla Ethelyn Gleason
Kenai resident Karla Ethelyn Gleason died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, at her home. She was 62.
At the family's request, no services are planned.
Mrs. Gleason was born Dec. 19, 1939, in Yakima, Wash. She moved to Alaska in 1979, living in Cooper Landing and Kenai.
She worked as a bartender and a nurse's aid.
"She was a wonderful mother and much loved by her many friends, " her family said.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Gleason.
Mrs. Gleason is survived by her daughters, Karol Handley, Linda Harman and Ronda Goodenough; brother, Robert Palmer; sister, Sharon Strom; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Frances Reilly
Kenai resident Frances Reilly, formerly Mrs. John Brown, died at her son's home in Anchorage Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001. She was 64.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of God in Soldotna on the corner of Binkley Street and Redoubt Avenue.
Ms. Reilly was born on Aug. 27, 1937, in Prosser, Wash. She earned a bachelor's degree in education at Seattle University and attended graduate school at several colleges in Alaska and Washington.
Ms. Reilly taught school throughout Alaska and Washington. Most recently, she was the education coordinator at the Wildwood Correctional Facility. She lived and taught school in Anchorage from 1961 to 1964, in Wrangell from 1964 to 1965, in Washington from 1965 to 1972, in Tyonek from 1973 to 1976 and in Kenai since 1976.
Ms. Reilly was baptized in the Catholic faith in Mabton, Wash. She donated annually to a wide variety of charitable groups. She helped start the Kenai-Soldotna Women's Resource and Crisis Center and eventually became its director. She volunteered her time to help various organizations such as the Kenaitze Indian Tribe as a tutor, the Kenai Spelling Bee and the Cub Scouts.
Her family wrote, "Frances knew she was an Alaskan from the day she stepped off the plane in 1961. She supported her five sons fully in their endeavors and travels across the United States, Europe and the Persian Gulf. She kept in constant touch with all her family and friends through her infamous phone calls day or night. We love and will miss her."
She was preceded in death by her son Sean, and her father, John Reilly.
Ms. Reilly is survived by her sons, Kevin Brown of Anchorage, Edward Brown and his wife Diana in Juneau, Russell Brown of Chugiak and James Brown of Anchorage; her mother, Mabel Reilly of Mabton; her brother, James Reilly and his wife Karen of Pahrump, Nev.; and her granddaughters Kaylee Brown of Anchorage and Jennifer Westrom of Eagle River.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Scholarship Fund at 255 N. Ames Road, Kenai, AK 99611.
Nell 'Annie' Racca
Kenai resident Nell "Annie" Racca died Monday, Sept. 17, 2001, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. She was 81.
A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at her home at 1125 Walnut St. in Kenai. Mrs. Racca's ashes will be spread over Lynx Lake.
Mrs. Racca was born Sept. 2, 1920, in Okemah, Okla. She moved to Alaska in 1957, where she lived in Anchorage until 1974, when she moved to Kenai. She worked as a hostess, manager and owned a steak house in Anchorage.
After moving to Kenai she worked as a real estate agent and for Inez's Western Store. She retired in 1985.
Mrs. Racca was a member of the Top of the World Four Wheelers Club, Pioneers of Alaska, Kenai Senior Citizens Center and the AARP. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, cookouts, time with family and friends, traveling (especially off-road), camping, black-tie affairs, walking on the beach, clamming, holiday get-togethers and shopping.
Her family said, "Annie was so very proud of her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to smoke fish, make jelly and can veggies. She really loved her 'team' at Frontier Physical Therapy. No one could escape from her or her camera.
"She could always be counted on for her honesty and candor. She had a lot of family and friends who loved her very much, and she will be greatly missed."
Mrs. Racca was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hulen L. "Chink" Racca; son, Jim Holland; and brother Francis Doom.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Clay Wofford; grandchildren Darla Johnson and Victoria Hulse; grandchildren and their spouses Debora and Tim Hite, Aaron and Wendy Holland, Chrystal and Mark Robicheaux and Raechel and Don Reddington; great-grandchildren Ryan, Alicia and Eli Hite, Bridgette Blezinski, Alexandra Ivary, Gage, Mason and Jessica Iverson, Tony, Paul and Sheilia Schwenk, Matt, Maddie, Avery and Cameron Robicheaux and Olivia Reddington; brother and sister-in-law Valbert "Jack" and Renata Doom; nephew, James Doom; and a niece, Judy Talon.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
James Wesley Harris
Soldotna resident James Wesley Harris died Tuesday, April 24, 2001, at Central Peninsula General Hospital after a short illness. He was 62.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. Marty Hall will speak at the service.
Mr. Harris was born Sept. 17, 1938, in Redding, Calif. He attended school in Vallejo, Calif., and Napa, Calif. He graduated from Napa High School in 1955.
He moved to Alaska in 1957 and homesteaded in 1958. He worked as a driller in the oil fields at Swanson River. He left Alaska in 1961 and went to work as an inspector for the Mare Island Naval Ship yards, inspecting nuclear submarines. In 1974, he returned to Alaska and worked as an inspector for most of the oil companies on the North Slope.
Mr. Harris enjoyed boating, flying, fishing and camping. He enjoyed doing many other outdoor activities and also owned his own plane.
"He was a very caring father, husband and friend to many. His family and his dreams were his main interests. He also wanted to preserve his dreams, " his family said.
Mr. Harris was preceded in death by his son, Croy.
He is survived by his father, Herrick Harris of Anderson, Calif.; mother, Phyllis Harris of Soldotna; his wife of 35 years, Dorthy "Robbie" Harris of Soldotna; daughter, Kathy Harris of California; son, James M. "Mike" Harris of Soldotna; and grandchildren Laurel and Ryan Harris of Soldotna.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
