Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 415
Willard Dee Lowe, 85, passed on Nov. 18, 2024, in Colfax, Washington. Willard was born on July 29, 1939, to Otis and Gala Lowe in Green Hollow, Washington, on the family farm. His birth was assisted by his maternal grandmother, Margaret Frederick, and his paternal aunt, Dorothy Lowe. He grew up loving hunting, fishing and camping. He attended Colfax schools in Washington state. During his junior year in high school, he was invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance by Anne Pierce, a freshman. This...
It is with great sadness that the family of William "Will" Cook Snyder announces his peaceful passing on Nov. 4, 2024, at age 64. "Will was an extraordinarily talented and unique human who was loved by many. He marched to the beat of his own drum and lived his life to reflect that mantra," his family wrote. He was born Feb. 6, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio. Early in his life, he earned a bachelor's degree in automotive restoration from the prestigious McPherson College in Kansas and graduated to beco...
David C. "Dave" Sturdevant, 76, passed away on Nov. 7, 2024, at his home in Juneau of brain cancer. Dave was born April 5, 1948, in Centralia, Washington, to Clint Sturdevant and Ruth Reeder Sturdevant. He first came to Wrangell in the summer of 1959 to gillnet with his uncle "Duke" Chase (Bertrace "Sturdy" Chase). Dave's entire family moved to Wrangell in June 1960. Dave enjoyed playing basketball while attending school in Wrangell through 10th grade. He transferred to a high school Outside to...
Loretta "Jeanne" Lindley passed away on April 7, 2024, in Wrangell. Jeanne was born Oct. 29, 1933, to Sally and James Jones in Canadian, Texas. She was almost always called "Jeanne" (she'd say, 'like I Dream of Jeannie'). She grew up in Washington state with her older brothers Joseph and James; younger sisters Shirley, Donna and Dora; and grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She graduated in 1950 from Clallam Bay High School. In 1951, she married Ronald Edward Lindley. They raised five...
Lillian Patricia Lackey, 76, of Soldotna, died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 10, 2024. Lillian, or Lilli Pat as she was known to some, was born March 24, 1948, to Kenneth Lincoln "Link" and Elizabeth "Tiny" Lewis in Wrangell. She graduated from Wrangell High School in 1966, and attended secondary school in Cleveland, Ohio, before returning to Alaska to live in Anchorage. In 1968, Lillian married Thomas C. Lackey, and together they moved to Tom's hometown in Georgia, where they lived until ret...
Shirley Jean Bartlett, 79, passed away peacefully in Coos Bay, Oregon, on Aug. 3, 2024. Shirley was born on Jan. 20, 1945, in Oakland, California, to Wendell Denton and Pheobe "Babe" Bartlett. She grew up moving between logging camps until they moved to McKinleyville, California, where she graduated from high school in 1962. After graduation, she met and married Edward Henry Sr. and had four children. In 1980, she and her children moved to Wrangell where she worked in her mom's restaurant The...
Charles Martin Nore, 82, passed away on July 6, 2024. Charles, the oldest of seven children, was born on Sept. 9, 1941, in Wrangell to Martin and Celestine Nore. In 1956, Charlie and his brother Mike were deckhands on the Marcele for their dad. In the summer of 1957, W.F. Smith brought the first shrimp peeling machine to Wrangell and asked Martin to fish for shrimp for him instead of seining. Charlie and Mike worked for their dad on the Marcele in 1957, 1958 and 1959. Charlie graduated in the Wr...
Edward "Ed" Roland Ness, 86, described by his family as a "beloved father, devoted husband, enthusiastic storyteller, at-ease conversationalist," passed away surrounded by his loved ones on July 13, 2024. Ed was born on July 8, 1938, the eldest child of Esther and Knute Ness of Wrangell. He fished alongside his father, hunted in the woods of what is now St. Elias National Park, and spent ample time outdoors growing up. After commercially fishing 13 seasons and loving boats, Ed pursued a career...
Lyle F. Bennett lost his battle with lung disease on June 19, 2024. He was born April 3, 1948, to Farrell and Alda Bennett. Though he was born in Vancouver, Washington, "he was a lifelong Alaskan." Lyle enjoyed many ventures during his lifetime, including drilling rock on Three Lakes Loop Road south of Petersburg, as owner/operator of Petersburg Art Gallery, as well as 30-plus years of owning and operating vending machines. He lived in Wrangell for a few years, about 35 years ago, working at the...
Longtime Wrangell resident John Church, 72, "skipper of the mighty Corvus, lover of music, birds, elaborate knots and puzzles, dear friend to so many with his kind heart, sharp intellect and dry humor," died peacefully from prostate cancer surrounded by loved ones and banjo music on May 5, 2024, in Port Townsend, Washington. There will be a memorial and celebration of life for John from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 12, at Shoemaker Bay picnic shelter, with a potluck, grilling, music, singing and sha...
Suzie Byford passed away on April 16, 2024, at Wrangell Hospice. She had just had her 80th birthday and was born in Anacortes, Washington, on April 4 ,1944, to Barbara and Donn Michal. Suzie attended Anacortes schools and was from the class of 1963. Suzie had a flair for cooking and worked at restaurants in Anacortes. She also worked as a cook at Western Washington University in Bellingham. She would drive up to Bellingham every day in her little old white Volkswagen Bug. During winter she drove...
Arnold "Arnie" R. Sandness, 89, passed away on March 23, 2024. His celebration of life was held April 25 in Sun City West Christian Church, Sun City West, Arizona. Arnie was born on Aug. 28, 1934, in Bellingham, Washington, to John and Randi Sandness. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1952, while serving in the Army reserves before attending Western Washington State College of Education. He served in the Naval Reserve Combat Battalion in Bremerton from 1953-1957. He was a mechanical...
Brian Hernando Fennimore, 53, passed away on March 14, 2024, in Wrangell after suffering from brain cancer. Brian was born on June 16, 1970, in Seattle. He grew up in Wrangell and was a 1988 graduate of Wrangell High School. After graduating from high school, Brian attended Clover Park Technical School in Tacoma, Washington; Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon; and Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Brian studied video/audio production at KTOO in Juneau and KTVA in Anchorage. Brian's...
Steven Brian Gerard, of Wrangell, died unexpectedly on Feb. 20, 2024. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at City Park in Wrangell. "We ask those attending to write a short story of a happy memory with or of Steven to read at the event," the family wrote. Steven was born to Arnold and Marilyn Gerard on May 8, 1969, in Watsonville, California. He was the fourth of five children. He attended Thunderbird...
David Michael "Mike" Saunders Sr. was born to Lee and Marie Saunders in Stockton, California, on July 7, 1957. He passed peacefully on Oct. 9, 2023, in Olympia, Washington. The family appreciates the heartfelt condolences and will hold a service at a later date. In 1967, Mike and his two older siblings, Cathy and Terry, and their parents relocated from Stockton to Wrangell to fulfill his father's dream of living in the land of opportunity, "where one could fish and hunt until one's cup runneth...
Kim Tyner (House) passed away unexpectedly in Sisters, Oregon, on Feb. 17, 2024. "Her absence leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of the countless people she touched," her family wrote. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. Kim was born July 25, 1951, in Wrangell to Donald and Margaret House. "She was a restless spirit right from the get-go. To the horror of her father, she bought a Honda 90 motorcycle as soon as she was old enough. Later, she sold it and acquired a 150...
Jacobus "Jack" Pino, 72, passed away peacefully on Jan. 26, 2024, in Wrangell. No funeral or memorial services are planned. Jack was born in Gouda, Netherlands, on June 1, 1951. "Jack as bigger than life, he had a wicked sense of humor and a quick wit. He was adventurous and a force to be reckoned with. He always told you the truth, even if it was not what you wanted to hear. His vocabulary was more than highly proficient at curse words. He loved four-letter words as much as he loved his bacon...
Robert James "Snuffy" Shilts Sr., 87, passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2024, at home surrounded by family in Ketchikan. No memorial services are planned. Born Dec. 28, 1936, in Greenville, California, to Edith and Robert Shilts, Snuffy was the second youngest of eight children. He attended high school and played football for the Bandon Tigers in coastal Oregon. Fast cars, hunting, fishing and logging were his passions. He met and eventually married Louise Marie Wenzel on May 23, 1964, at the...
Patty Jean Kautz passed away on Jan. 7, 2024. She was 80 years ago. Patty was born Jan. 29, 1943. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. March 23 at the Marine Bar. Patty owned and operated the Marine Bar for 41 years. She is survived by husband Bruce Kautz; sister Darlene Kenner (Dewight); sons Van Dunbar and Jason Dunbar; daughters Rhonda Dunbar and Terri McGee; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren....
Longtime Wrangell resident Doreen "Stretch" Gale Keso (Ellingson), 84, passed away on Jan. 7, 2024, in Anchorage, where she had resided since February 2021. Stretch was an Alaska pioneer, living in Wrangell for more than 60 years. A celebration of life will be held this summer in Wrangell. The date, time and place will be announced at a later date. Honoring her wishes, burial will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Coquille, Oregon, at the family plot. She was born in Coquille, Oregon, to Ira Denton...
Peter Engwall, a former Wrangell resident and a member of the Big Rapids High School Class of 1969 in Big Rapids, Michigan, died Feb. 17, 2023, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. After graduation, Peter eventually made his home in Wrangell, where among other occupations he worked for many years as a salvage diver. He was well known in the community and often led the annual Fourth of July parade through town. “Peter will be remembered as a lifelong traveler and seeker of unusual adventures that included a canoe trip down the Yukon River, a year spent s...
Barbara Lee Patrick passed away on Dec. 4, 2023, at the age of 88 in Monroe, Washington. Barbara graduated from Wrangell High School in 1954. She married Russell Theodore Patrick on Nov. 3, 1956, at the University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. She attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, for a year and a half and then attended business college in Seattle. She and Russell made their first home together in Madras, Oregon. They moved back to Wrangell in the late 1950s, where she worked...