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MARION F. MERRILL
Marion Frances Merrill, 78, died Jan. 17, 2000, in Mesa, Ariz.
She was born Feb. 23, 1921, in Decker, Ind.
Ms. Merrill came to Alaska in the mid-50s from Wyoming with her husband, Robert L. Merrill. The family homesteaded on Hatcher Pass Road north of Willow. In 1966, they moved into Anchorage.
Ms. Merrill, a nursing college graduate, worked for the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services in accounting.
Her family recalled: Marion was a compulsive reader, brilliant English historian and often stated that in her love for books she had traveled all over the world, had met the most interesting people and lived through them.
(She was an) Alaska pioneer who helped build two log homes with conveniences and later became an Arizona snowbird.
(She and her husband) were married 36 years before she declared her independence after all her children were raised.
She gave so much of herself to the hearts of others, especially her family, and will be so greatly missed. (She) taught us joy, truth, and love. Mother: A woman of peace, a woman of thought, a woman of books, she wont be forgotten.
The family added that they love her and are thankful to her and to God for making possible their experience with her.
They wrote that she is now with God.
She was preceded in death by her former husband, Robert Merrill, in 1993.
She is survived by her children, Steven Merrill, of California, Garth Merrill and family, of Nevada, Mark Merrill, of Willow, Robin Merrill and family, of Arizona, and Francie Merrill, of Anchorage; grandchildren, Nicholas, Lisette, Angelica, Llewellyn, Dharma, Maleia, Macie, Teressa and Michael; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers, Bruce Lane and family of Georgia and Daniel Lane and family, of Indiana; cousin, Betty McCormick, of Indiana, and the familys 96-year-old matriarch, Gladys Ready Burkhard, of Decker, Ind.
Her family asked that memorial gifts be sent to the American Lung Association.
WALTER CHAPPEL
Former Valley resident Walter Chappel, 78, passed away to his heavenly home on Feb. 6, 2000, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with his family surrounding him, after a courageous seven-month battle with cancer.
Mr. Chappel was born June 5, 1921 in Kalispell, Mont., to Walter and Frances (Sugden) Chappel. His family moved to Yakima, Wash., where he graduated from Yakima High in 1939. He joined the Navy in 1939 and served for six years, including service on the battleship New Mexico. He later graduated from aerographer school and finished his Navy career on Guadalcanal as an aerographer first class. Upon completion of his naval career, Mr. Chappel and his family lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 20 years.
Mr. Chappel brought his family home to Yakima in 1964 and had several jobs before serving as treasurer for the city of Yakima from 1967 to 1978. He and his wife, Lois, moved to Wasilla in 1978, where he served as comptroller for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough until his retirement in 1984.
Upon his retirement, Walt and Lois Chappel spent one year on a trip around the world visiting friends, family and missionaries. They continued to travel throughout his retirement. The couple wintered for the last 14 years in Kona, Hawaii, and summered in Yakima, Wash.
Mr. Chappel loved the Lord, people, music, and the beauty of nature and was an avid follower of current events. He felt a deep commitment to missions around the world and his local church.
His family submitted the following psalm: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:6.
He is survived by his wife of 55-1/2 years, Lois Chappel; son, David and his wife, Sandy Chappel, of Wasilla; daughters, Denise Chappel, of Talkeetna, Danielle and her husband, Mustafa Surkatty, of Jakarta, Indonesia, and Dawn and her husband Jim Van Horn, and his sister, Dorothy Emmert, all three of Yakima, Wash.
Mr. Chappel was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Chappel, in 1996 and his brothers, Donald and Deane Chappel, of Yakima.
Walts grandchildren include Eric and Sarah, of Talkeetna, Robin, of Richland, Dennelle, Chris, Laurie and Lesley, of Wasilla, Omar, Osman and Sorayah, of Jakarta and Jacob and Jessica, of Yakima; three great- grandchildren in Alaska and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held at the Kona Baptist Church in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Feb. 8. Memorial services will also be held in Yakima on March 4.
Condolences may be sent to David Chappel, 3065 Naomi Drive, Wasilla, AK 99654.
GLADYS H. BRASS
Anchorage resident Gladys Helen (Reed) Brass, 98, died Feb. 5, 2000, at Alaska Regional Hospital.
A memorial service will be held this summer at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Her cremains will be placed in the Crystal Lake Cemetery.
Mrs. Brass was born Aug. 1, 1901, in Hibbing, Minn. She lived her life in Minnesota until May 1999, when she moved to Big Lake with her daughter and son-in-law. In October 1999 she moved into an assisted living apartment in Anchorage.
In earlier years she had been employed as a telephone operator.
She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
Her family said: Gladys showed her love of people, especially children, through her joy in gift giving and kind and caring ways. She shared her love of flowers with her family and many friends. She was dearly loved by everyone whose life she touched.
Survivors are her son, William Brass, and his wife, Darlene; daughter, Gloria Lilja and her husband, Nels; grandchildren, Darrell Lilja, Jim Brass and his wife, Marna, Sharon Lilja, Nancy Mattison and her husband, Tom, Corinne Theis and her husband, Mitch; and great-grandchildren, Erin, Dan, Mark, Jeffrey, Steven, Garrett, Alycia, Lynessa, and Maggie.
Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.
DARLENE ELLEN ROBINSON
Wasilla resident Darlene Ellen Robinson, 75, died peacefully last Friday night, Feb. 11, 2000, in her home.
A memorial service was held Feb. 16 at the LDS Stake Center, Wasilla. A viewing was held just prior to the service. Burial will take place in Utah.
Her family wrote: She was a greatly respected woman who respected others deeply. She was first a wife of 54 years to her beloved Bruce, then a mother to all seven of her devoted children who adored her desperately. She had 22 precious grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Darlene was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she served in many capacities over the years. Darlene and her husband, Bruce, homesteaded to Alaska in 1948. They lived in Chugiak and retired to Wasilla where they lived happily ever after. Momma, you are loved.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce E. Robinson.
She is survived by her rich legacy of her seven children, Kathy and Lamar Eskelson, of Utah, Linda and Richard Later, of California, David and Koreen Robinson, of Wasilla, Carol Robinson, of Utah, Marygail and Earl Talbot, of Wasilla, Shelli and Ken Myers, of Utah, and Judy and Brady Field, also of Utah; 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.
DONALD WESLEY FRENCH
Longtime Alaska resident Donald Wesley French died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2000, of cancer at his residence in Homer. He was 66 years old.
Funeral services were held Feb. 15 at the Glacier View Baptist Church in Homer. The service was officiated by Pastor Richard Wise. A visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Interment followed at the Hickerson Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers included Aaron Lindquist, Chester Godin, Garrett Buol, Matthew Ortega, Leighton and Jared Guisinger. Honorary pallbearers included Frank Wise, Monte Sowers and Don Barkman.
Mr. French was born Oct. 5, 1933, in Gooding, Idaho, where he was raised and educated. On Aug. 3, 1952, Donald married his wife of 47 years, Lois. They moved to Madras, Ore., where they resided until moving to Homer in 1976. Shortly thereafter he started the Homer Drywall Company. Mr. French enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and construction. According to his family, He loved and served God, which was reflected in all of his relationships and business affairs.
Mr. French is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lois, of Homer; daughters, Lela Lindquist, of Palmer, Dawn Guisinger, of Wasilla, and Joy Buol, of Salem, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Homer Funeral Home.
DONNA LOU PURDEY
Eagle River resident Donna Lou Purdey, 53, died at her home Feb. 5, 2000.
A memorial service was held Feb. 12 at the VFW Post 9785, in Eagle River, with the ladies auxiliary and the Rev. Thomas Evans officiating. Her ashes will be spread in the Chugach Mountains.
Mrs. Purdey was born Aug. 5, 1945, in Napa, Idaho. She completed the 10th grade of education.
She taught cake decorating in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, and worked as a nurses aide for three years in Idaho.
She came to Alaska in 1997.
She was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Post 9785 in Eagle River. Her special interests were cooking, reading and watching old movies.
Her family said: She was a lady who always put her family first and was always there when you needed her. She will be missed deeply.
Survivors are her husband, Daniel Purdey, of Eagle River; daughters, Debora Nelson, of Eagle River, and Darla Walton, of Spokane, Wash.; sons, Daniel Loomis and Dennis Loomis, both of Spokane, Wash.; nine grandchildren, and Ralph, her 110-pound basset hound, which she referred to as our baby brother.
Flowers may be sent to 19010 Babrof Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577.
Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.
SHAWN CAMERON REISNER
Palmer resident Shawn Cameron Reisner, 34, died Feb. 6, 2000, at home, from cancer.
A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 11, at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, Mile 5 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. A memorial gathering, at the family residence across from the church, will follow the burial at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jon Reisner, Bob Reisner Sr., Bob Reisner Jr., David White, Solan Fenner and Lonny Elliott.
Mr. Reisner was born May 27, 1965, in Anchorage. He attended West High School. He lived in Anchorage for 19 years, and in Palmer for 15 years. He was a self-employed tiler who installed until 1997, and was involved in management with Artistic Tile from 1997 to 1999.
He was a member of Valley Baptist Tabernacle, and enjoyed biblical studies, cars, camping and snowmachining.
His wife wrote: We will miss him very much. He was a wonderful husband and dad, and my very best friend. I know he has gone on to a better place to be with our Heavenly Father. The family will carry on with the help of our Lord. Shawns favorite verse was Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. He is loved by many.
Surviving are his wife, Eve C. Reisner; children, Shawna, Jon, Jeannine, Mikel, David and Megan; parents, Ronald and Rose Reisner; brother, Bob Reisner Jr., and sister, Colleen B. Reisner.
Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.
STEPHEN CARL QUEEN
Big Lake resident Stephen Carl Queen, 61, died Jan. 27, 2000, of heart failure, at home.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial marker will be set at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
Mr. Queen was born Aug. 19, 1938, in Kansas City, Kan., to Perry O. and Callie F. (Bissell) Queen.
He was a retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy, and a decorated Vietnam veteran. He served in the Navy from September 1957 to January 1984. He came to Alaska in 1987, and resided in the Big Lake area.
A nephew said: All who really knew him will surely miss him.
Survivors are brothers, Leo, of Oregon and Gary, of Idaho; sisters, Lois Duffield, of California, Lola Perkins, of Montana, and Frances Meadows, of California; son, Steve; daughters, Lynn and Beyona, and several grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.
