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Sophia Marie Moon
Former Kenai resident and Alaska Native Sophia Marie Moon died Sunday, May 13, 2001, at her home in Anchorage. She was 58.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai. Father Chris will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Kenai. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the church. There will be celebration of life following the service on Wednesday at the Katmai Lounge in Kenai.
Mrs. Moon was born Nov. 29, 1942, in Anchorage. She lived in Ketchikan, Seldovia and Kenai. While living in Kenai, she worked in the canneries and also as a cook for the Rig Cafe. She and her husband moved to Anchorage in November of 2000.
Mrs. Moon was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. She enjoyed plants, handcrafts, beading and earrings.
"Sophia was a very wonderful, cheerful woman and had a very devout faith in the Russian Orthodox Church, " the family said.
Mrs. Moon is survived by her husband, Arnold Moon Sr.; daughters, Doris Lageson and her husband of Kenai, Florence Darien of Anchorage; son, Eli W. Darien and wife, Beth, of Kenai; stepson, Arnold R. Moon Jr. and his wife Suzanne; grandchildren Alan Jr., Clinton and Alexis Lageson, Edward, Chantilly and Lisa Darien, Anjie Goldner and Amy, Amber, Weslee and Crystal Moon; great-grandchildren Christy, Desmond and Dominick Moon; sister, Betty Ketah and her husband, Albert, of Ketchikan; and aunt, Lisa Wilson, of Kenai.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Central Peninsula Unit, P.O. Box 2165, Kenai, AK 99611-2165.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Maria Thibodeau
Kenai resident Maria Thibodeau died Sunday, May 13, 2001, in a car accident in New Mexico. She was 22.
Arrangements are pending with Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Ira Russell Smith
Nikiski resident Ira "Rusty" Smith died Saturday, May 11, 2002, at his home in Nikiski. He was 73.
At this time, no services are planned.
Mr. Smith was born July 8, 1928, in San Bernardino, Calif., the son of Ralph and Florence (McDonald) Smith. He was a self-employed plumber. He moved to Alaska in 1998.
His family said, "He was a devoted husband and father. He also enjoyed doing for others."
Mr. Smith enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also was a YMCA volunteer, participating in drives to generate money for kids who couldn't join the YMCA.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty Dugan. He is survived by his son, Philip R. Smith of Nikiski; daughter, Kristine L. Smith-Couveau of Soldotna; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Paul Smith of Costa Mesa, Calif.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Gladys Alene Jones
Longtime Soldotna resident Gladys Alene Jones died Monday, May 15, 2000, at her home in Soldotna. She was 50.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Nazarene in Soldotna. Pastor Michael Staton will officiate.
Funeral services and burial will be at a future date at the Rose Hills Mortuary and Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif.
Mrs. Jones was born Dec. 21, 1949, in Siloam Springs, Ark. After moving to California, she graduated from the El Monte High School in El Monte, Calif. She had moved to Soldotna in May of 1976. She furthered her education by receiving an associate of arts degree in computer science from Kenai Peninsula College.
Mrs. Jones was a member of the Church of Nazarene and the Assembly of God Church, both in Soldotna.
"She was an extraordinary homemaker who enjoyed gardening, quilting, sewing, computers, traveling and family time, " her family said.
Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband of 31 years, Mike Jones of Soldotna; sons, Mike Jones II and his wife Felicia Jones of Soldotna and Matt Jones and fiancee Ange Crouse, both of Soldotna; father, Hubert Duncan of Riverside, Calif.; sisters Donna Melendez of Covina, Calif., and Connie Almeida of Riverside, Calif.; and close family friends James and Jody King of Soldotna, Iver Ohnemus of Cooper Landing, Sharon and Woody Heselius of Los Angeles, Donna and Paul Rumley of Soldotna, and Mary Zumwalt of Soldotna.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Central Peninsula, 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 214, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Darris Allen 'Al' Cress Sr.
Longtime Nikiski resident Darris Allen "Al" Cress Sr. died Sunday, May 13, 2001, at his home.
He was 66.
In accordance to his wishes, he was cremated. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Aurora Heights Assembly of God Church in Nikiski. Pastor Rufus Tallent will officiate. Burial of the ashes will be in Central City, Iowa. Mr. Cress will rest with his father in the Center Point Cemetery.
Mr. Cress was born June 20, 1935, in Center Point, Iowa, to Ruth and Orville Cress. He was educated there and worked on the railroad as a young man. He moved to Alaska from California in 1973 and lived in Nikiski until his death.
Mr. Cress enjoyed a varied career including used car sales, heavy equipment operation and industrial construction. He worked for API as a roustabout on the platform in Cook Inlet, Wade's as a sandblaster and heavy equipment operator and Rappe Construction as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. He was also Rappe's grader operator for the borough road maintenance program for many years.
"His family will miss him. Roxie will miss the phone calls with the 'news of Nikiski.' Donnie will miss the fatherly hugs and advice. Tony will miss 'papa' and playing and riding with him on the equipment. Robbie will miss the 'man who talked with Santa, ' and we will all miss the little funny quirks he had. He gave advice freely gained from personal experience. He was always helping someone even when they did not ask for it, " his family wrote.
"He dearly loved his grandson Tony. He loved country music, and, in his early years, he entertained his friends with his singing. He sounded like the late Hank Williams and sang a lot of the Hank Williams songs when he lived in California. We will all miss the little man with the long gray beard driving his old blue van up and down the North Road. He is now driving a golden highway and singing his songs with a heavenly choir."
Mr. Cress was preceded in death by his father, Orville Cress; son, Clayton Cress; and stepson Victor Hogge.
He is survived by his former wife and friend, Roxie Little, of Sterling; son, Darris Allen Cress Jr., of Nikiski; daughters Georgianna, Ruthie and Darlene; stepson, Joe Hogge, of Nikiski; stepdaughters April Weinrick of Palmer, Cheryl McGahan of California, Kathryn Dent of Colorado and Bridgette Storeck of California; grandsons Tony and Kody Cress; his mother, Ruth Cress of Center Point, Iowa; sisters Dorothy Meekins of Pennsylvania and Valeta Schnell of Iowa; and numerous step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Charles 'Charlie' Parker
Soldotna resident Charles "Charlie" Parker died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Soldotna Church of the Nazarene. A viewing will begin at 1 p.m.
Maria Lee Thibodeau
Kenai resident Maria Lee Thibodeau died Sunday, May 13, 2001, in an automobile accident in Las Vegas, N. M.
She was 22.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai. Father Richard Tero will officiate. Following the service, the family will receive friends at the church. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday with a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.
Ms. Thibodeau was born Oct. 27, 1978, in Soldotna. She attended school in Kenai, graduating from Kenai Central High School in 1996. She furthered her education at Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii, graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing in 2000.
Ms. Thibodeau worked at Arby's Restaurant from 1992 to 1996. She also worked for Paradisos Restaurant in Kenai. She also worked as a lifeguard in Boulder, Colo., and was a tutor at Pacific University in Hawaii.
Ms. Thibodeau was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai and the Nursing Honor Society. She was an altar girl all through high school. She enjoyed snowboarding, skiing, wake boarding, swimming and dancing.
The family said, "Maria was a joy to be around. She lit up the room when she came in. She was outgoing, generous and loved by all. She was a wonderful daughter, sister and companion. We all miss her dearly and will remember her always. She knew from an early age she wanted to be a nurse and later a physician's assistant, but sadly didn't have enough time to begin her career."
Ms. Thibodeau is survived by her parents, Emery and Anne Thibodeau; brothers Jason, Luke and Sam, who was Maria's twin; grandmothers Cleone Wells and Frances Thibodeau; aunts and uncles Tom and Nancy Thibodeau, Joe and Pam Geiselmann, Randy and Patty Parsons, Kevin and Caridad Wells, Kent and Becky Wells, Kerry and Lisa Wells, Keith Wells and Michael Thibodeau; and cousins Kelly and Meghan Thibodeau; Craig, Carl and Katie Wells; and Lisa, Julie and Jill Geiselmann.
Memorial donations may be sent to Central Peninsula General Hospital, Emergency Department, 250 Hospital Way, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
John Douglas Schreiber
Former Sterling resident John Douglas Schreiber died Thursday, May 9, 2002, at his residence in Thomaston, Ga., after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 51.
Mr. Schreiber was born June 11, 1950, in Bozeman, Mont. He loved traveling the country on his Harley. He found Key West beautiful and requested that his ashes be spread there.
Mr. Schreiber was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Margaret.
He is survived by his children, Lisa of Wichita, Kan., and Dustin of Sterling; brother, Val of Montana; niece, Lori, and nephews, Scott, Shawn and Shane, all of Montana; and longtime companion, Diann Coley of Thomaston.
Elizabeth "Liz" Bolstridge
Sterling resident Elizabeth "Liz" Bolstridge died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at Central Peninsula General Hospital after a brave battle with cancer. She was 73.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Sterling. Pastor Bob Reasner will officiate. There will be a celebration of life following the memorial service at the Sterling Senior Center.
Mrs. Bolstridge was born March 30, 1928, in Ashland, Maine. She attended high school in Mapleton, Maine, and graduated there. In 1954, she moved to Alaska with her husband.
They lived in Anchorage for two years, before buying the Edgar Law Homestead in Sterling and settling there. She worked at the Soldotna Post Office and then did books for the family real estate business.
Mrs. Bolstridge loved gardening in her greenhouse, flowers and her numerous windmills. Ceramics were her favorite hobby, and she was famous for her cake decorating and strawberry and banana cream pies.
"Her favorite times were playing with her grandchildren and spending time with her family and friends. Many summer days were spent at their cabin on the river with fishing and picnics. She very modestly did a great deal for many children throughout the years. To her, all children were perfect. She always had a smile for everyone and a laugh for everything.
"Her spunkiness and liveliness will be greatly missed by all. She's free to dance again." her family said.
Mrs. Bolstridge is survived by her husband, Basil; son, Jim Bolstridge; daughter, Iris Hammond and her husband, Chad; grandchildren, Ashleigh and Andrew; and her extended family, Lee and Myla McFarland and Mike and Marquitta Andrus and their sons.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99503.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Cynthia L. Cobb
Kenai resident Cynthia L. Cobb died Friday, May 18, 2001, at the Providence Medical Center in Anchorage of heart failure. She was 40.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Kenai. A visitation will be held an hour prior to the funeral.
Following the funeral, she will be buried at the Kenai City Cemetery. Pastor Dean Nichols will officiate.
Mrs. Cobb was born on April 27, 1961, in Astoria, Ore. She completed two years of college at Brigham Young University. She had been a resident of Alaska since September 1995, and lived in North Kenai and Kenai. She spent most of her adult life as a homemaker. Mrs. Cobb was a member of the First Baptist Church in Kenai.
She enjoyed crafts, quilting, cross stitch and many other creative pursuits.
She loved to sing and enjoyed offering that gift to God for his good pleasure.
"Cindi's greatest purpose in life was to pass her faith on to her six children and be a God designed mate and partner to her husband. She will be missed, and yet we rejoice that she has gone on ahead to the reward that awaits all who know Christ Jesus, " the family wrote.
Mrs. Cobb is survived by her husband, Tony; her children, Joshua, Nicole, Charles, Kendra and Jesse; and her brothers, Jay and Ian.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
