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Effie Folger Kokrine
Fairbanks, Alaska
Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Effie Marion Folger Kokrine, died Nov. 2, 2001.
Effie was born at camp on the Tanana River on March 23, 1919, to Jessie and John Folger.
She learned the subsistence lifestyle from her mother and grandmother Selena.
A lifetime learner, Effie was an excellent seamstress, beader, skinsewer, and artist.
She accomplished anything she set her mind to.
Effie married Andrew Kokrine and had 11 children, three whom died young.
They lived a subsistence lifestyle, traveling by boat in summer and dog sled in winter--moving from Tanana to fish camp with the seasons.
In 1949 they moved to Fairbanks, however they spent many enjoyable summers on the Yukon River by Fish Creek.
Effie and Andy were both accomplished dogmushers, well known for their ability to inspire dogs to greatness.
Effie was the first woman to win the Women's North American three years in a row.
She was instrumental in starting the Junior Dogmusher's Association.
One of Effie's greatest role, besides mother and grandma to all, was educator.
She loved sharing her vast knowledge.
Often people visited in her Graehl home listening to stories or watching her demonstrate a skill.
She taught many how to sew, bead, make a fishnet, cut and dry fish, tan a moosehide, and more.
"Grandma Effie" taught in the schools--showing traditional Native tools and materials used for subsistence--demonstrating the "old way" of living and relating how those skills could be used now.
Effie loved to travel.
A highlight was when she appeared on "You Bet Your Life" with Bill Cosby in Philadelphia.
Effie served in many organizations including American Legion Post 11; Northern Lights Badger Road Lions; and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.
She received numerous recognitions including Doyon's Shareholder of the Year; AINE Educator of the Year; Girl Scouts Women of Distinction and a legislative commendation.
Effie was a Doyon, Ltd. and Tozitna shareholder.
"In the Sweet By and By" is the hymn Grandma Effie was translating into her Koyukon Athabascan language to sing at the memorial potlatch in Tanana for her sister-in-law Elizabeth "Pinky" Folger with friend Patty Bowen.
Effie spent her last evening singing, dancing, telling stories and laughing with friends at the Elders Residence, a place she enjoyed staying when she went home to Tanana.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; children Eleanor and Raymond; grandchild Ben; and 12 siblings.
Effie is survived by six children and their spouses: Robert, Mary and Jerry Pearson Sr., Deanna and Jim Linzner, Kenny and Debbie Kokrine, Annette and Vince Freiburger, and Cindy and Randy Herod; brothers Roy Folger and Arnold Joseph and sister Elsie Flannagan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Nov. 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Matthew's Church with funeral services held 1:00 p.m. Nov. 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Burial will be at Birch Hill Cemetery. A potlatch followed services at Denali Entertainment Center, 634 Fifth Ave.
Arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home.
Clifford C. Porter
Kenai, Alaska
Longtime Alaska resident Clifford C. Porter died Friday, November 2, 2001, at home surrounded by his family near Kenai. He was 74.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2001 at Carol Boch Hall in Ninilchik.
Pastor Keith Lauwers will officiate at the service.
Burial will be in the American Legion Cemetery.
Mr. Porter was born Nov. 14, 1926 in Baudette, Minnesota.
In Nov. 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving during World War II.
He was honorably discharged in June, 1946.
He moved to Alaska in 1953 and lived in Kenai, Anchorage and Ninilchik..
He worked for the Laborers Local #341 and retired from there in 1987.
He was a protestant and enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Mr. Porter is survived by his wife of 27 years, Betty of Kenai; children, Carmen Couch of La Pine, Ore., Karen Hartsock of Cobden, Ill., Christine Broadway of Paducah, KY, Robert Porter of Vancouver, Wash., Sheila Barce of Beaverton, Ore., Tom Tibbs of Anchorage, Cindy Tulloch of Gig Harbor, Wash., Brian Tibbs of Ninilchik and Don Tibbs of Anchorage; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters, who love him and will miss him dearly.
Memorial donations may be sent to Central Peninsula General Hospital, c/o Oncology/Infusion Center, 250 Hospital Place, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Frances Mollene Fountain
Fairbanks, Alaska
Longtime Alaska resident, Frances Mollene Fountain, 63, passed away peacefully in her sleep with her husband by her side, Tuesday, November 6, 2001 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Mollene was born in Miami, Florida to Bennie and Lucy Scott on March 11, 1938.
She came to Alaska in April of 1955 with her husband, where they raised their nine children.
Mollene worked as a retail clerk and meat wrapper at the Steese Market and later at the Market Basket in North Pole.
She was also a waitress at Flippers restaurant in Fairbanks and the Evergreen in Delta Junction.
Mollene liked spending her free time with her husband, Wayman and family.
Mollene was a proud and faithful servant of her God Jehovah, as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses her entire life.
According to the family, “Mom was dearly loved by her family and friends.
She was a wonderful example of a loving wife and mother.
Mollene always had a warm smile and kind word for everyone that she met.”
Mollene was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and stepfather Moly Goolsby.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Wayman; brothers, John Scott and his wife Elaine and Ed Scott and his wife Joyce; children, John and his wife Donna, Mark and his wife Tamara, David and his wife Donna, Lisa and her husband Ruben, Richard, Keith and his fiance Debbie, Lydia and her husband Adam, Sarah and her husband Gerimy, and Leanne and her boyfriend Gary; 21 grandchildren, Debra, Patrick, Wesley, Audra, Kayla, Luke, MacKenzie, Christopher, Jonathon, Efren, Felipe, A.J., Kory, Dustin, Ashley, Alexis, Taylor, Michael, Brittany, Layla and Austin; 3 great grandchildren, Collin, Andrew and Christian.
Memorial services were held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 10th, 2001 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1247 Old Steese Highway in Fairbanks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Donna’s House of Care, P.O. Box 1679, Delta Junction, Alaska 99737.
Arrangements were cared for by the Fairbanks Funeral Home & Crematory.
Marjorie Rae Wraight
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks resident Marjorie "Margie" Rae Wraight, 85, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, of natural causes at her home.
Margie was born March 24, 1916, in Auburn, N.Y., to Eugene and Rhonda Farrington.
Alaska had been her favorite vacation place since the mid-1970s, and in 1997 she moved to Fairbanks to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter.
Margie had worked in Auburn as a store manager in a retail business until retiring in 1976.
In 1983, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Auburn Women's Bowling Association.
Margie led an active life and was always on the go.
She volunteered for the Bowling Association and the senior citizens' home in New York and enjoyed helping out one way or another.
Margie's favorite pastimes included bowling and slot machines, and she was an avid baseball fan, specifically rooting for the Atlanta Braves.
Margie was preceded in death by her parents; son, Elton Smith; husband, Earl Wraight; and great-granddaughter, Rebbeca Aramburo.
She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Cartner of Fairbanks and Betty Ann Assmann of Auburn; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001, at Immaculate Conception Church, 115 N. Cushman Street.
The Rev. Richard L. McCaffrey, S.J., will officiate.
A gathering will follow at the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #1392, at 98 10th Ave.
Funeral services for Margie will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001, in Weedsport, N.Y., where she will be laid to rest next to her parents and son in the Weedsport Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Margie's name to the Fairbanks Resource Agency, Adult Day Care, 805 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701.
Arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home.
Rebecca Lynn Patton
Anchorage, AK
Rebecca Lynn Patton, age 30, of Anchorage died Monday, November 12, 2001 at Providence Medical Center.
She was born July 27, 1971 in Warren, Michigan.
She attended the University of Georgia at Athens where she received a degree in teaching.
She moved to Alaska in 1997 and was employed at the Glacier Brew House Restaurant in Anchorage.
Some of her hobbies include outdoor sports, and especially snow shoeing.
Her family is quoted as saying; “She was a very loving daughter, and sister and was true friend to everyone.”
A memorial service was held Wednesday at 1st Christian Episcopal Church with Pastor Paul D. Everett officiating.
Rebecca is survived by her mother and father; Jerry & Evelyn Patton of Marietta, Georgia, brother; Jerry Patton of Marietta, Georgia, sister; Alicia Reed & husband Chad of Marietta, Georgia, niece & nephew; Shelly Reed & Wyatt Read both of Marietta, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, P. O. Box 241102, Anchorage, Alaska 99524.
Arrangements are by Anchorage Funeral Home.
