Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Elliot Cuthbert
Elliot James Cuthbert, 1 month and 2 days old, died Nov. 26, 2008 at Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore., from complications of heart surgery. A memorial service will be held Sunday at Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary’s Chapel, 209 S. Alaska St. in Palmer.
Elliot was born Oct. 24, 2008 at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.
Elliot’s family states, “Elliot was a beautiful baby boy who brought so much love and joy to his family and health-care providers. Elliot was a little fighter. He was a very strong with a will like no other. He was joy, love, laughter and peace. The treasured short time we had with him will forever fill our hearts with wonderful memories, unconditional love and a bond that can never be broken. We thank the hospitals of Providence Childrens Hospital of Anchorage and Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital of Portland and Ronald McDonald House of Portland, and to family friends and co-workers for taking such great care of Elliot and his family in this tragic time of our lives. With Love...The Cuthberts.”
Memorial donations can be sent to 226 N. Independence St., Palmer, Alaska 99645.
Elliot is survived by his parents, Ronald J. and Desi-Ray Cuthbert, brothers Kody R. Cuthbert, and Cory M. Cuthbert, all of Palmer; grandparents, Carl and Nancy Hereford of Wasilla, Judy Peel of Pontotoc, Miss., Don and Joyce Silva of Pioneer, Calif., Ron and Diana Cuthbert of Anchorage; great grandparents, Mrs. Josaphine Buckingham of Chelsea, Mich., and Mrs. Daisy Bass of Palmer.
SUSAN L. RATH
Funeral services for Susan L. Rath will be at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at the Wasilla Chapel of Valley Funeral Home & Crematory, 151 E. Herning. Interment will follow at Wasilla-Aurora Cemetery. There will be a memorial service in Kotzebue Aug. 29.
Rath was born Feb. 19, 1946, in Phoenix, Ariz., to Jacqueline and Robert Rath.She graduated from Arizona State University with a major in music and a minor in education. In college, she played the viola with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the Theater-In-The Round with musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall and Liberace.
After college, she found the Baha’i faith and through this met and then married Terry Adams in 1974. Rath’s faith instilled a pioneer spirit and, with her husband and two young daughters, she moved to Selawik in 1977.
Rath taught elementary school for two years before moving and settling in Kotzebue. There she became the director of the child care center and for the next 12 years worked to create a bilingual head start preschool. She then took the job as the director of family resources with Maniilaq Association, retiring only two years ago.
During all her years of service to the Nana region, her first priority was to assist in empowering her local community to achieve its goals of sustaining a strong culture, heritage and language. During her 30 years in the community she was a consistent figure on the school board, local Baha’i Assembly and many other committees.
She joyfully served her faith by bringing words of inspiration to life, for her part, on the local Baha’i radio project that aired weekly for almost 30 years. Her life was about improving the lives of children, whether it was first-hand in the classroom or behind the scenes through social service work, writing grants and volunteer efforts.
“If my children grow up better than me, then I did my job well, ” she said.
Rath is survived by her mother Jacqueline Rath; daughter Stephanie Adams; daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Richard Shield; son and daughter-in-law Timothy and Kimberly Adams; grandchildren Tory, Cayley, Deeja, Zerin and Terren; brothers Greg and Richard Rath; and sister Patricia Bellotti.
She was preceded in death by her father Robert Rath; and son Troy Adams.
James Elisha “Pat” Eller
James Elisha “Pat” Eller, 87, died Sept. 23, 2008 at home in Wasilla.
A private family service was held with Masonic Past Master WB Russell Sanders of Matanuska Lodge No.7 officiating with a military honor guard detail rendering honors. Future services will be held in Skiatook, Okla., at a later date.
Eller was born April 7, 1921 in Talequah, Okla., graduating from Skiatook High School in 1937. He attended Officers Military Training School, journeyman training for ornamental ironworkers and electronics technical school.
He served as an officer in World War II, the Korean War and US Army ORC. He was a disabled veteran as a result of his service.
He was a construction worker at the Manhattan Project in Hanford, Wash., (Plutonium Project Reactor) late 1942 to 1943. Eller worked as an ornamental journeyman Ironworker but quickly rose to superintendent of construction on sites such as the U.S. Air Force Academy and various federal buildings. He also worked on JFK Airport in New York and was construction superintendent on the John Hancock Building in Chicago, Ill. He traveled extensively for consulting and “troubleshooting” on various commercial, state and federal building construction, especially those utilizing “hanging glass” high rise construction. He was the owner of PatCo Oil Co. in Oklahoma.
He retired in California from construction work after being injured in 1974 and because his war disabilities had become too disabling to allow him to work construction any longer. He continued work in the oil business for several more decades. He moved to Wasilla in 2001.
He was a 52-year member of Masonic Lodge, Skiatook Lodge No. 416. His retirement interests included e-mailing friends, gardening, pool and fishing.
“He will be greatly missed by so many from across the nation, ” his family wrote. “We are glad he was able to live such an interesting and varied life.”
Mr. Eller is survived by three daughters: Dayna Pat Wescott of Henderson, Nev., Linnette Eller Booth and Janeal Elisha Eller of Wasilla; granddaughters LeeAnn Crawford of Los Angeles, Calif., Jessica Linn Gunn of Wasilla; grandsons Shawn Alan Young of North Carolina, Jason James Ford of San Diego, Calif., Justin Vance Beavers of Anchorage; great-granddaughters Lindsey Ann of Anchorage, Rainie Linn of Wasilla, Dylan Elise of San Diego; brother Lee R. Eller of Tulsa, Okla.; a nephew and many great nephews and nieces nationwide.
He was preceded in death by son Gary Lee Eller, parents Alfred and Della Eller, brothers Everet and John Eller and sister Gladys Martin.
His ashes will be honored in Ocean Beach, Calif., and final resting place will be in Skiatook, Okla.
Valley Funeral Homes & Crematory of Palmer and Wasilla Assisted the Family.
JACK HUSHOWER
Jack Allen Hushower, 60, died at home Sept. 30, 2008 in Palmer.
He was born Sept. 30, 1948 in Columbus, Ohio. He moved to Palmer in April of 2008.
Hushhower was a bar manager in Memphis, Tenn., for the last 10 years.
He loved spending time with his family. He family stated, “Poppy told everyone that moving to Alaska to live with his son’s family was his ‘last great adventure’.”
Hushower is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Jamie and Carol Hushower, grandchildren Tobin and Jesse, brother Steve Hushower and sister Pat Hushower.
Arrangements entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer.
Mary Etta McKee
Mary Etta McKee, 76, died Oct. 1, 2008 at Providence Extended Care in Anchorage.
A celebration of life will be held at Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary in Palmer at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6.
Mary Etta McKee was born March 5, 1932 in Chickasha, Okla. She became an Alaska resident in September 1959 and resided in Palmer.
McKee was employed in the civil service in the laundry facility on Ft. Richardson during the first half of the 1960s, then at the Kenai Dining Hall on Elmendorf Air Force Base during the late 1960s until about 1972 when she retired.
Her family states, “Mom enjoyed gardening and fishing. She was always trying out new smoked salmon recipes. Mom also left behind her three babies, her dogs, Tilly, Susie and Peaches.”
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Glenda and Kenneth Cross and Charlene and Jack Carney; son Wesley D. McKee II; grandchildren Bruce Busby, Patricia Greenstreet, Roy Cross, Boyd Cross, Neil and Virgil Tucker, Bruce Couch, Angela Tucker and Jackie Sexton; and 12 great grandchildren.
Stella Marion Lynne
Stella Marion Lynne, 91, of Minot, N.D., formerly of Ryder, N.C., died Aug. 27, 2008 in a Minot hospital.
Lynne was born on April 19, 1917 on the family farm near Ryder to Carl and Josephine (Sather) Anderson. She was raised on the family farm and attended rural schools in that area.
She married Norrie Lynne on March 7, 1940. They made their home in Montana. Later Lynne spent each fall, winter and spring in Glennallen and Wasilla with her daughter’s family, while spending summer months in Great Falls and Phoenix with her son’s family.
Lynne’s passion was her family, with baseball a close second. She was an avid supporter of the Minot baseball teams, and grandma to the Wasilla basketball team.
“She was a special lady who touched the lives of many people, ” Lynne’s family wrote.
Her survivors include her daughter Carol (Rollie) Port of Minot; grandchildren Susan (Jon) Hoffman of Seattle, Wash., Katy (Jim) Allers of Minot, Christina (Larry) Markwardt of Bismarck, N.D., Damee Port and Rob (Jessica) Port, all of Minot; and 9 great grandchildren.
Stella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sons Jerry and Duke, and a great-grandson.
EDNA JOHNSON
Wasilla resident Edna Margaret Johnson, 84, died Sept. 3, 2008 of natural causes at her residence.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at Wasilla Bible Church at 1651 West Nicola Ave. with Pastor Jim Eller presiding. She will be interred at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage next to her husband.
Johnson was born Feb. 26, 1923 in Ridgefield, N.J. She was a wife and homemaker.
She was a resident of Homer from 1969 to 1970 before moving to Wasilla.
Johnson taught Sunday school for many years and was active in women’s ministries at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, First Baptist Church and Wasilla Bible Church, which she attended.
Johnson loved singing and giving “Chalk Talk” stories in church. She was also a skilled seamstress with four years of sewing and tailoring experience at New York Girls Commercial High School.
Her family said: “Mom shared the love of God with everyone she encountered. Her joyous spirit inspired and encouraged family and friends throughout her life. Mom was always interested and supportive of what each of us was doing and listened intently to everything we had to tell her.
“She exhibited a quick wit and a delightful sense of humor that brought great joy to all of us. The focus of Mom’s life was to share her love of Jesus Christ and to be sure each member of her family came to know Him personally. It was a job well done. We have been greatly influenced by the life of an amazing, Godly woman and ‘prayer warrior.’ We are eternally grateful that God gave her to us.”
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Perry Johnson; sister Claire Evans and brothers Kenneth and Harold Clisset.
She is survived by her daughters Nancy Johnson-Lynch of Tumwater, Wash., and Joyce McPherson of Ellensburg, Wash.; sons Kirk Johnson of Klamath Falls, Ore., Kevin and Todd Johnson of Wasilla; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and several foster children.
Elouise Mary (Davis) Smith
A celebration of life for Elouise Mary (Davis) Smith, who passed away Dec. 19, 2007, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Palmer Senior Center. Smith’s family will host a brunch at the center where she enjoyed many years of close fellowship with other Valley seniors.
Smith was born Jan. 1, 1915, the second of four children of Stephen Davis and Ethel Jenkins, a cattle ranching family in Carroll, Neb. In the Great Depression, her family lost everything and moved to Payette, Idaho, where they picked fruit until her father started a hamburger stand. Smith graduated from Payette High School in 1926. Later, her father became the foreman of a ranch in Deer Island, Ore., where she rode horses, roped calves and hunted deer. While working at a Safeway store in Marshfield, Ore., she met George Edwin “Ed” Smith. They married on April 15, 1936, in Longview, Wash.
World War II separated them for three years while Ed served in the Navy. Before the war, Ed worked in Alaska with the Civilian Conservation Corps building cabins and barns for the Matanuska Colony project. In 1946, only days after he was discharged from the Navy, Ed, Elouise and their baby, Stanley, set out on the Alaska Highway when it was first opened to civilian traffic. Many times they were towed through mud patches by teams of horses. Arriving in Anchorage, they lived in the Fairview area for a year. They attended the First Methodist Church and Smith helped found the Anchorage chapter of the women’s sorority, PEO. She was the first president.
In 1949, they bought 80 acres on Bodenburg Loop Road near Palmer. They built a basement and lived in it while they finished the house above them. They gardened, hunted moose and fished in Jim Creek. Together, they raised three children, Stan, Ron and Barbara, who enjoyed raising horses, geese, cats and dogs as well as gardening and growing close as a family.
They opened and operated Ketchikan Spruce Mills lumber yard in Palmer. They were among the volunteers who built the first Valley hospital that wasn’t a tent. They attended the United Protestant Church, the “Church of a Thousand Trees.” Smith was a Cub Scout den mother, Camp Fire leader and past local and state PTA president.
For 14 years, she was the business manager for the Mat-Su School District. Previously, she was an independent bookkeeper for several Valley businesses. Smith actively supported Ed when he was executive director of the Associated General Contractors of Alaska, attending and participating in many meetings and conventions.
After the 1964 earthquake, she motivated her sons to help their neighbors in need while she and her daughter cooked meals for neighbors and family.
After retiring from the school district, Smith stayed active at the Palmer Senior Citizen Center. She was on the board for nine years, serving as secretary one year and president eight years. She enjoyed close friendships and social events there. Until her eyesight began to fail, she was a daily visitor.
Smith loved fishing the Kenai and was extraordinarily proud of being 67 years old when she caught a 67-pound king that equaled her age.
She also enjoyed celebrating several birthdays with her entire family in Kona, Hawaii, her family said.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Rayburn and Lucille; her parents, Steven Davis and Ethel Jenkins Davis Little; and husband, Ed.
Smith is survived by her brother Ronald Davis; sons and daughter Stan, Ron and Barbara; daughters-in-law Bec and Natasha; son-in-law Tim; grandchildren Shannon, Stephanie, Steve, Terri, Juhree, Cynthia, Erin, Airika and Alexandra “Sasha;” many great-grandchildren; and brother- and sisters-in-law. Her oldest son Stan passed on in May 2008 after a long struggle with cancer.
Donations in her memory are suggested to the Palmer Senior Citizen Center, 831 S. Chugach St., Palmer 99645.
“The family is grateful to the many close friends, medical professionals and caregivers who provided comfort to their mother, and especially to Hospice of Palmer, which helped her and the family in her final days, ” they wrote.
Arrangements were with Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.
VINCENT JOSEPH DEMICHELE
Vincent Joseph DeMichele, 85, died of natural causes March 21, 2006, at his residence in Palmer.
A private memorial service was held March 21, 2006, in San Diego, Calif.
He was born Dec. 8, 1920, in Italy. He was a carpenter in New York, Arizona, and California, and was a member of Unity Church of Anchorage.
His family said, “He was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1921. He married our mother in 1942. He served in Germany during the war. He loved to fish and watch baseball. He loved the water and spent a lot of time on boats in San Diego. In 1997, he came to Alaska to visit his three sons, and got married to his second wife, Jackie Sewell. He was the best father anyone could ever want. He would put others before himself. All who knew him knew he was true. He will be missed by many. He will be forever in our hearts.”
Arrangements by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.
