Rev. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Clyde Bovee

Rev. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Clyde Bovee, loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather; perpetual storyteller and a careful and attentive listener, passed away in Chula Vista, California, on March 18, 2021. A friend to all, he lived a life that intertwined his strong Christian faith with a love of learning.

Chuck and his twin sister Mel Taylor were born on Feb. 11, 1926, in Seattle, Washington, joining the Bovee family of two older sisters, Helen and Jane, and parents Homer and Lois. In Seattle, he attended school, helped his dad in the family diner, and was very active in the First Presbyterian Church. 

In July 1944, after finishing high school, Chuck signed up for the U.S Army Air Corps where he initially trained as a navigator for bombers, and later trained new recruits. He left the service at the end of 1945 as a private, first class.

After this military service, he attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, receiving a bachelor of arts in psychology in 1950 and a bachelor of education in 1951. He then re-entered the Air Force during the Korean War and served at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from June 1951 to September 1952 as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital. This time he left the service for good having attained the rank of sergeant.

In 1952, he began working as a youth counselor for The Navigators ministry, mainly in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was here he met another counselor, Edyth “Edie” Bovee, as they provided follow-up ministry to new believers resulting from Billy Graham crusades. Chuck and Edie married on July 30, 1955, on the grounds of Baylor Prep School.

Chuck left the Navigators ministry in 1955 to return to his academic career, receiving a master of arts in Guidance & Student Personnel from Columbia University Teachers College in New York City in 1956. He subsequently taught psychology and Bible at Baylor Prep School in Chattanooga from 1956 to 1958. 

In 1956, Chuck and Edie also started their family with twins Michelle and Michael, followed by Kent, Mark and Spence.

He received a bachelor of divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, in 1963. During his theological studies, he was a part-time psychologist for a community health center for the Georgia Health Department, as well as part-time director and a counselor at the Presbyterian Guidance Center of Atlanta, 1960-1963. 

He also served then as a fill-in pastor for churches throughout Georgia. He would take one of his kids with him each time, rotating through them. Afterward, they would stop at Howard Johnson for lunch, which the kids long remembered as a special treat.

From 1963 to 1968, he was the full-time director and counselor at the Presbyterian Guidance Center, while earning a doctorate in education, Cum Laude, at the University of Georgia, Athens, in 1967.

From 1968 to 1970, Chuck was associate professor of psychology and coordinator of counseling services at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. 

The Alaska Years

Always up for a new adventure, in the fall of 1970 Chuck and his family made a life-altering decision when they packed up and moved to Sitka. During the next 45 years, Chuck and Edie would make significant and lasting contributions to the Sitka community.

From 1970 to 1981, Chuck served as academic dean at Sheldon Jackson College. Living just a block from campus, Chuck and Edie had an open-door policy there, where everyone was always welcome, young and old, whether local or from out of town. Their frequent dinners always led to great conversations and friendships.

In 1971, Chuck led the college’s efforts to develop a field-based education program for Alaska Native teacher’s aides. It used the college’s Pilot Training Program to fly professors to Native villages around Southeast Alaska, so that Native Alaskans could earn associate teaching degrees at home. The program later extended to offering bachelors degrees. 

 Some of the enduring programs that Chuck facilitated while at Sheldon Jackson were the creation of the aquaculture program, now called the Sitka Science Center; the Sitka Summer Music Festival, where he served on the board of directors for its first 25 years; and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. 

 From 1986 to 1995, Chuck was director of Human Resources at SEARHC, just as it was taking over the Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He led the transition of all staff from federal employees to a private employment system.

Chuck’s religious activities throughout these years included being a member and pastor-at-large of the Alaska Presbytery and moderator of Synod Alaska-Northwest in 1980-81, interim pastor of the Sitka First Presbyterian Church 1983-1985, interim pastor of the Kake Presbyterian Church 1994-1995, and supporter of Young Life Sitka.

Also, while living in Sitka, Chuck served as a member of the Sitka Parks and Recreation Committee and supported the Paths Across the Pacific conference. He was a member of the Sheldon Jackson Historic Site Preservation Society and helped raise funds to save and refurbish Allen Auditorium.

For several years in the 1980s, Chuck and Edie co-owned the Wild Strawberry Restaurant, which received a coveted Gourmet magazine review and lays claim to having Sitka’s first espresso machine.

In his free time, Chuck never let a lack of experience or knowledge stop him from trying something new, such as purchasing a 30-ft. cabin cruiser or taking up deer hunting, without having any previous experience. Chuck enjoyed fishing for salmon, and although the boat frequently came home empty, he always enjoyed his time on the water with family and any friends who wanted to come along. 

 In the spring of 2015, Chuck and Edie decided to leave Sitka for Southern California. Prior to leaving, the City and Borough of Sitka proclaimed April 9, 2015, as “Dr. Chuck & Edie Bovee Day” in recognition of their 45 years of commitment to the community. From their new home at Fredericka Manor retirement community in Chula Vista, they continued to make friends and enjoy visits with their children and grandchildren.

Chuck is survived by his loving wife Edie Bovee of Chula Vista; children Michelle Masters (Joe) of Houston, Texas; Michael Bovee (Barbara) of San Diego, California; Kent Bovee of Sitka; Mark Bovee (Christi) of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Spence Bovee of Los Angeles, California; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

 A celebration of life video link can be found at https://charlesbovee.com/video. The music in the video was written and performed by Mark Bovee. A Sitka sunset photo is courtesy of Dan Evans.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Robert Richard Edenso

Services for Robert Richard Edenso, 83, will be held 2 p.m. Monday, March 29,  at Sitka National Cemetery. A reception will follow at 3:30 p.m.  upstairs at Sitka Moose Lodge. 

Robert, known to his friends as Bob, was born Nov. 20, 1936, in Craig, Alaska, and passed away March 20, 2021, in Sitka. When he was 9, his parents, Robert Morris Edenso and Mary Elizabeth Fitzgibbon, moved to Sitka for the fishing, and he has always returned to his beloved hometown. He Graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School in 1954. After a year of junior college at Sheldon Jackson, he joined the U.S. Army and became a member of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” Paratroopers. 

Bob met Loretta Jewel Williams in 1958, and they married at the Sitka First Presbyterian Church on Oct. 28, 1961.

Bob worked at Alaska Lumber & Pulp Company as a digester operator and as a maintenance electrician. He was a member of IBEW and worked as journeyman electrician on various construction jobs.

In his retirement years, Bob did what he enjoyed most as a commercial fisherman. His greatest passion in life was fishing both commercial and sport. He was committed to his many commercial trolling vessels – the F/V Bar-Ber-Etta, F/V SonRay, F/V Ocean Raven, F/V Bobby’s Girl, and the F/V Pamala D.

Loretta, his wife and partner, was affectionately known to the troll fleet as “The Admiral,” and Loretta lovingly called Bob “Captain Bligh,” of Bounty fame. Bob and Loretta spent many hours on the fishing grounds together. Loretta expertly steered the boat along the well-known trolling drags and kept the crew well-fed. Bob enjoyed playing on pool league teams, dart league teams, and many bowling league teams. He was sought after for his dance skills, and he and Loretta rarely missed Friday night dancing.

Bob was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge, the American Legion, and the Sitka Sportsman’s Association. 

Bob is survived by his two sons, Bart C. Edenso, his wife Kim, and Bert L. Edenso of Sitka. Bob was proud of his three grandchildren, Eric Edenso, Megan Lindstrom, Bryan Mayville, and three great-grandchildren, Kristin Jewel Edenso, Allyson Mayville, and Carvel Swensen.

Bob was the oldest of five children and his Mom’s “one and only son.” His sisters are Tina Leask (deceased) of Anchorage, Georgianna Zimmerle and Marly Edenso of Ketchikan, and Laurie Unruh of Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

After the loss of his great love and partner, Bob and their longtime friend Claudia Donnally, who had lost her husband, grew close and gave each other companionship. For the past 16 years, Bob and Claudia have enjoyed a wonderful relationship, supporting each other in good and hard times and always laughing and dancing together. Although it wasn’t her favorite thing, Claudia did her time on the water supporting Bob as he pursued his love of smacking salmon on Sitka Sound and Baranof Shore fishing grounds each summer.

The family wishes to recognize and appreciate the love and support given by Claudia’s family, Erin and John Hansen, Katie Rouse, and Carl Lindstrom. As the years passed, these wonderful helpers were generously involved in the daily caretaking of Bob as age attacked his health. 

The family wants to humbly honor lifelong friends as pallbearers: Tom Budd, Brian Martin, Todd Nevers, Don Seesz, Donny Garrity, Stretch Zimmerle, and Christopher Jackson; and honorary pallbearers Carol Williams and Carroll Goddard.

For the reception, a side dish to share would be welcome, the family said. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Swan Lake Senior Center.

Virginia Almina (Cameron) Phillips

“Our gracious Lord called home our mother, His very own faithful servant Virginia Almina Phillips (nee Cameron) on March 30, 2021,” her family said.

She was 96 and recently had been living in Sitka Long Term Care after years of living independently.

“Dear Lord, we give Virginia back to thee, who gave her to us. Yet, as thou did not lose her in giving, we have not lost her forever by her return. For what is thine is always ours, if we are thine.”

In January, Virginia celebrated 42 years of faithful service dedicated to her Sitka community and to her church. As a young woman, Virginia joined the International Order of St. Luke, dedicating her life to the Christian healing ministry. Virginia’s stated calling was to love God and act upon it and, in that vein, she was an active member of the Rosary Society and organized the Sitka Day of Prayer.

Virginia was born to Redes Homer Cameron and Lillian Grace (Kennedy) Cameron on Oct. 4, 1924, in Bellingham, Washington. She spent most of her childhood in Ketchikan and moved with her family to Sitka in 1941. Growing up, she was a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She learned to ride a bike in Totem Park, played baritone in the Sheldon Jackson High School band and drove an ambulance when there were only three cars in Sitka.

Virginia met Hartsell D. Phillips, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, when he was stationed in Sitka during WWII. They married and moved back to his hometown, Elkins, West Virginia, where their three children were born. After the war, Army life called Virginia to take the children and follow her husband to live in Vienna, Austria, then return to West Virginia for the next 35 years, raising her children, and working as a beautician. 

Moving back to Sitka in 1979, Virginia became a member of St. Gregory Catholic Church where her voice became well known for her many deeply committed efforts toward building a better community through service and prayer. Virginia co-founded Sitka Holiday Dinner for those without family and was a member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, Sealaska, Emblem Club, Republican Presidential Task Force, a Right to Life spokesperson and foster parent. She enjoyed spending her time working on crafts and for causes that she deeply believed in.

Like her grandmother Mary Starish-Stach, education was important to Virginia, and throughout her life she sought every opportunity to learn. In her 60s, from 1983 to 1985, she attended Gonzaga University. She was a Sloan Fellow at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota. In the summer of 1984 and the following summer she was an American Indian Fellow at the University of New Mexico Law School Summer Institute of Indian Law. From 1985 to 1986, she attended the University of Minnesota Law School. 

Virginia is survived by her daughters, Sandra Noe and Susie Callen (Jan) and son Hartsell D. (Sonny) Phillips Jr. (Colleen); her five grandchildren, Michele Thomas (Clark), Jason Callen (Miller), Galahad Phillips (Sarah), Hannah Schneider and Ariel Felber; and eight great-grandchildren, Cameron Thomas, Elise Thomas, Virginia Callen, Lucy Callen, Mary Armstrong Callen, Trey Phillips, Austin Phillips and Katie Phillips. 

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Cameron and Charles Cameron, and her sister Bonnie Gerow. She is survived by two siblings, Evelyn Kanen and Kenneth Cameron. 

A funeral Mass will be held 1 p.m.  Monday, April 5, 2021 at St. Gregory Catholic Church. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no reception will be held at this time.

“Lift us, strong Son of God, that we may see further; dry our eyes that we may see you more clearly; draw us closer to thyself, that we may know ourselves nearer to our beloved mother who is with thee; that where they are, and thou art, we too one day may be. Amen.”

Leona (Eastham) Riggs

On Friday, March 26, 2021, Leona Riggs, loving wife and mother of three grown children, passed away at the age of 97, in Deming, New Mexico.

She was born Nov. 27, 1923, in Kenova, West Virginia, to Eli and Eva (Clarkson) Eastham, the 11th child in a family of 12.  On April 7, 1942, she married Lindsey Perry Riggs, her high school sweetheart, before he left for duty overseas in World War II.

After graduating from high school in 1943, while Lindsey was overseas, Leona was a “Rosie the Riveter” in Toledo, Ohio. After Lindsey returned at the end of the war, they had three children, and raised their family between West Virginia and California, and then finally in Sitka, Alaska.

In California, Leona worked for the Department of Navy as a keypunch operator, and in Alaska she worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a dorm matron at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She later ran a home day care.   

In the early 1980s, she and Lindsey retired to Deming, where they enjoyed another 30 years together.  After Lindsey died, Leona lived with her daughter Sandy and son-in-law Dave in Deming. Her son Rick and his wife Christina lived nearby.

Leona was a strong Christian woman who never shied from sharing her faith in Christ with family and friends, as well as strangers. She loved to sing hymns in the car and in her living room. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Deming.

Leona was an outgoing, active woman. She worked hard on her family’s farm from the time she was a young girl, was proud of her country roots, and didn’t put on airs about who she was.  She was a star pitcher on her high school softball team as a teen, which coincidently is what she was doing when Lindsey first saw her from the classroom window and exclaimed to his friend, “I’m going to marry those legs some day.”

She enjoyed camping with her family when they lived in California, and later did arts and crafts with a group of friends in Sitka. She liked to be busy, canning countless jars of tomatoes, green beans, and peaches in the summer, and crocheting incredibly beautiful afghans and other items during the winter months ... blessing many family members and friends over the years.

Leona loved, cherished, and was extremely proud of each of her grandchildren and the generations of grandchildren that followed. She was generous to those she saw with a need, as well as with friends and family. And she loved New Mexico.  In her later years she became an avid walker, which probably contributed to her longevity.  

Leona was preceded in death by her husband, Lindsey, both her parents, and all her siblings, and by her son Phil and son-in-law, Dave.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Adams Williams of Deming, son and daughter-in-law Rick and Chris Riggs of Deming, and daughter-in-law Sue Riggs, of Sitka.  She also is survived by eight grandchildren, Debbie (Loren) Thompson, Gus (Rachel) Adams, Parke Adams, Rich (Nicole) Riggs, Julie (Kevin) Wakley, Daphne (Jay) Tidwell, Amanda (Jim) Airo, and Ricky (Dawn) Riggs, as well as 17 great-grandchildren, and 12  great-great-grandchildren, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews in several generations, and her beloved and faithful Chihuahua dog Molly.

In life on this earth, Lindsey and Leona lived a humble life together, and loved one another unconditionally, with their love for one another only exceeded by their love for God, their family said. “While they always had very modest worldly resources, this never concerned them, as they were truly rich in Christ, and as such, their happiness knew no bounds. Their true legacy is the Christian way they lived their daily life, even when no one else was watching.”

Due to pandemic concerns, no services will be held at this time. Her church celebrated her by singing one of her favorites, “I’ll Fly Away, Sweet Jesus,” this past Sunday in her honor.  The family plans to have a gathering in Sitka at some time to spread her ashes together with Lindsey’s.

Christopher David Brewton

Christopher David Brewton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son-in-law, brother, uncle, and friend, departed for his final adventure on April 1, 2021, succumbing to pancreatic cancer, with his wife and kids by his side. 

He loved all things boats and was often found with a fishing pole in hand. As a grandfather and uncle, he was known for spending time with the family children, patiently teaching them how to bait a hook or throw a baseball. Ever the comic, he always had a corny “dad” joke ready to tell, and he even managed to get the last laugh by passing away on April Fools’ Day. Chris was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need – especially when a boat was involved!

He was born Sept. 26, 1956, in Malone, New York, to Alton and Mildred Brewton. He attended Valley Point High School in Dalton, Georgia, before heading to the Coast Guard immediately after graduation — he was just 17 when he started boot camp. Chris worked his way through the ranks, qualifying for Officer Candidate School, and eventually retiring as a lieutenant commander after 25 years of service. He spent those years at various duty stations around the world, from New York City to Guam to Kodiak, Alaska.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, he moved back south for a bit, working for both Dalton Utilities and the Tennessee Valley Authority. He eventually found his way back to Alaska, his favorite place. He worked as a utility engineer and then Port & Harbor Director for the city of Ketchikan before setting down some roots in Sitka, where he married Sitkan Kim Elliot. The two had a beautiful Berry Island ceremony in 2007 officiated by Michael Sullivan and assisted by stand-in mother Iko Sullivan. 

During his 14 years in Sitka, Chris took the lead in the largest single expansion of electric energy capacity in the city’s history: the Blue Lake Project. He spent years navigating the maze of federal permits, agency land transfers, complex financing, and contract negotiations. Just as he had been in his USCG service, Chris strived for perfection in the sharp-eyed oversight of his mission. Yet he still found time to provide individual encouragement to all of the Sitka workers hustling to get the project completed while also attending to his other demanding duties as director of the Sitka Electric Department. He leaves a renewable energy legacy that will serve, every day, many generations of Sitka families as well as provide for the future economic growth those families will need. 

Chris was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Mildred Brewton.

He is survived by his wife, Kim Elliot, Sitka, and his two children, Dara Brewton Schweitzer (Rob) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Joshua David Brewton (Mary), Atlanta, Georgia. He also has four grandchildren: Cole, 22, Aidan, 15, Greyson, 3, and Rowan, 2 months.

Chris’s surviving siblings include his elder sister, Cindy Richmond (Richard), of Dalton, Georgia; his brother, Marc Brewton (Billie), of Cleveland, Tennessee; and his youngest sister, Teresa Otero (Jack), of Waterford, Virginia.

He also will be missed by his fathers-in-law Al Wilson of Sitka and Kent Adams (Lou) of Olympia, Washington; his brothers-in-law Kent Adams (Nancy) of Juneau and Michael Leccese (Klaudia) of Sitka; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

The family thanked the medical staff from SEARHC in Sitka and Alaska Oncology in Anchorage for their excellent care during Chris’s illness. They also thanked all of their friends and family members for their support over the last year.

A small graveside service will be held to celebrate Chris’s life at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2021, at Sitka National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers include Joshua Brewton, Michael Leccese, Al Wilson, Ty Peterson, Jack West, and Ken Hales.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to do so make a small donation in Chris’s name to a favorite charity. Messages can be mailed to the family at 7 Maksoutoff Street in Sitka, AK, 99835.  

William Dean “Bill” Lovejoy

William Dean “Bill” Lovejoy, whose travels included stays in Sitka, passed away March 6, 2021, a month shy of his 83rd birthday.

He was born April 4, l938, in Seattle, Washington, the son of Frederick Bentley and Jane Dean Lovejoy. He attended Marysville, Washington, schools and Everett Junior College.

In his youth, Bill was an enthusiastic limited hydroplane racer, and was on ocean racing boat crews, as well.  He maintained a lifelong passion for boats and being on the water, which resulted in later years in many family summer cruises in Puget Sound and waters north. As a young seaman, he served in the U.S. Navy in Primary Flight Control on the USS Ticonderoga.

Bill married Constance (Connie) Jean Erickson in 1964. His insurance brokerage  career was based in Portland, Oregon, but they lived and raised their two sons, Bart and Eric, in Vancouver, Washington. 

Bill was a passionate bird hunter, spending many happy days at their Central Oregon “hunt camp” pursuing chukar, pheasant and quail with family and friends. He also had a lifetime love for his many hunting dogs, mainly German shorthairs, wire hairs and English pointers, who served him faithfully. He taught son Eric how to hunt and son Bart how to fish.

For many years, Bill had a “fish house”  in Sitka, where he generously entertained family, friends and clients, making sure they always took home a good catch. He also participated in community activities, including volunteering for the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society in helping restore a 1940s boathouse on Japonski Island. 

Further adventures found him fly fishing in New Zealand, traveling to Scotland and Ireland, and searching for family genealogy in Southern England.  His travels with Connie took them to France, England and Australia. 

In retirement he found time for golfing at Royal Oaks Golf Club and spending as much time as possible at their Netarts, Oregon, beach homes. He also treasured time with grandchildren Halle, Lindsay and Rex Lovejoy, cheering them on with school and athletic activities: a memorable slot car derby involved him and Rex.

Bill leaves his wife of 57 years,  Connie, of Battle Ground, Washington; his three grandchildren from son Eric Lovejoy and Melissa Benton, Vancouver; son Bart Lovejoy (Danny), Seattle; sister Jane Littlefield (Rufe) Bellevue, Washington; and brother Ben Lovejoy (Karen) in Nokomis, Florida, as well as nieces and nephews.

The family takes heart in the stories, memories, laughter and love in a life well-lived. He loved his family wholly, as well as many friends, who valued Bill’s sense of humor and willingness to allow people to be themselves.

A private family service will be held. Cards may be sent to 1310 SW  39th Way, Battle Ground, WA 98604.

The family suggests remembrances to the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society (P.O. Box 2153, Sitka, Alaska 99835); www.sitkamaritime.org or email: sitkamaritime@gmail.com.

Philip Herman Moreno Jr.

Philip Herman Moreno Jr., son of Harriet Miyasato Beleal and her late husband Edward Beleal and Philip Moreno Sr., passed away peacefully April 8 in Anchorage. He was 64.

Phil was born in Sitka Nov. 3, 1956, and made his home in Anchorage with his brother George Moreno.

His Tlingit clan was L’eeneidi, Yaxte Hit, Kaagwaantaan Yadi from Auk Bay, where his great-grandmother, Annie Worthington Johnson, was born. His great-grandfathers were Chester Worthington and James Johnson, founding fathers of the Alaska Native Brotherhood.

Phil loved to fish and hunt and was his happiest when he could enjoy a Native way of life.  He loved to make jewelry, necklaces and earrings with his dad, the artist Philip Moreno Sr., and Maureen Roberts. Earlier in his life he liked to travel a lot.

Surviving family includes his mother, Harriet Miyasato Beleal, of Sitka; his brothers George and Anthony Francis Moreno and Chad Titell; his sisters,  Lynette Moreno Hinz, Rachel Moreno, Paulette Moreno and Rita Moreno; and his Auntie Kate Miyasato.

His cousins are Ben, Nick, Chester Jr. and Chuck Miyasato; Liz Miyasato; Danny, Caesar, James and Frankie Miyasato; Dorianne Miyasato; and Joanne Sam from Juneau.

Nieces and nephews are Lizzie Vanerway, Stephanie Moreno, Mary Soots, Shaleena and Marissa Delgado, Ty Waldron, Dennis Waldron, Teresa Waldon, Christopher Parker, Philip Kameichi Moreno and Edith Ann Sam.

Grandnephews are Michael Miyasato, Nickayo Miyasato and Danny Moreno; and grandnieces are Chenille Miyasato, Sherry Moreno and Sharon Lee.

A memorial service will be held at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage on Friday, April 16, and a celebration of his life will be held in Sitka  4-7 p.m. Monday, April 19, at 1710 Edgecumbe Drive, Apt. A.

“Our family would like to thank all our family and friends for the expressions of support,” a family member said.

Those wishing more information regarding services may contact Rachel Moreno at 738-6595.

Roger DeWitt Higley

Beloved longtime Sitkan Roger DeWitt Higley passed away suddenly at his home in Sitka on April 5, 2021. He was 80.

Roger was born December 3, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first of three children born to Robert DeWitt and Cornelia (née Baker Nash) Higley.

Roger graduated from Highland High School in Salt Lake City in 1959. Always a hard worker, he had a job as a bag boy, and then as a checker for Dan’s Food Town. After high school graduation, he went to work for Tracy Collins Bank & Trust, first as a bank messenger, and then as a teller at several of the bank’s branch offices.

In September 1962 Roger joined the U.S. Coast Guard. After completing boot camp in Alameda, California, the Coast Guard stationed him in Sitka, where he served on the C.G. buoy tender Sorrel as a seaman.

In the summer of 1964 Roger was transferred to the Coast Guard base near Long Beach, California. While there, he served as the messenger for the District Office, and later became the driver for the District Commander, Adm. Ned Sprow. While serving he received the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

In 1966, Roger completed his four-year tour with the USCG with the goal to return to Sitka, which he did.

On arrival back to Sitka in October 1966, Roger went to work for Ray Woodruff at Sitka Engine and Equipment. In December of that year, he joined Arrowhead Transfer, where he worked for 32 years, retiring as Vice President of Administration and Comptroller in October 1998. During this time he worked closely with the company’s owner, Gordie Harang, and saw the company grow from a one-person office to seven busy offices throughout Southeast Alaska, with 110 employees.

Roger witnessed many changes in the transportation business. From Alaska Steamship’s WWII Liberty ships arriving every two weeks to weekly, and then twice-weekly arrivals of Alaska Marine Line barges. 

For 25 years Roger owned and operated Totem Travel, which first was located downtown on Lincoln Street, and then moved to the DMV building on Halibut Point Road. The travel agency closed in 2003.

On January 10, 1987, Roger married Cecelia (Ce) Ann Hodges. They enjoyed many years of traveling the world. They especially loved cruising. In 2015 they embarked on a 108-day World Cruise. On other cruises they saw polar bear in the Arctic, Norway, and took many trips to New Zealand (a favorite destination of the couple). They enjoyed river cruises in Russia, China and Europe.

Roger was very fond of trains, so some of their travels included railroading across Australia. Roger and Ce loved road trips and drove all over the USA visiting all the lower 48 states, seeing friends along the way. For many years they enjoyed wintering in Maui at their condo in Kihei.

Roger was passionate about serving his community, and volunteered many hours to local organizations and non-profits. He was an active member of the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce. When not traveling he never missed a weekly Chamber luncheon, which Ce attended along with him. In 2017 the Chamber presented Roger with its highest honor, the Cossack Cap Award, in recognition of his service to Sitka.

Roger was a founding member of the Sitka Economic Development Association (SEDA), and was made an honorary life-time board member. He continued to attend board meetings whenever in town.

A lover of classical music, Roger served on the board of the Sitka (Summer) Music Festival for 20 years, and was president of that board for eight years until he stepped down in 2005. 

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Cornelia Higley, his brother Robert DeWitt Higley, and sister Constance Ann Higley.

He is survived by his dear wife Ce, of Sitka. Also surviving are his sons Russel DeWitt (Pamela) Higley, of Tacoma, Washington, and Stanley (Maybelle) Filler Jr. of Sitka; and daughters Stephanie (Jim) Charlesworth of Sitka, and Angela Filler of Bend, Oregon.

Grandchildren are Rowen DeWitt Higley, Tacoma; Mitchell Edwards, Ellensburg, Washington; and Chatum Clark and Neva Rose Clark of Sitka. 

Roger is also survived by his extended family, of which he was very fond, in Tacoma and Spokane, Washington, Meridian, Idaho, and Salt Lake City.

Pallbearers are Gordie Harang, Roger Hames, Lloyd Swanson, Stanley Filler Jr., Russel Higley, Jim Charlesworth, Paul Haavig, Kim Hanson, Trevor Harang and Donald Lee.

In lieu of flowers, Roger himself asked for donations to the Sitka Music Festival (P.O. Box 3333); Sitkans Against Family Violence (P.O. Box 6136); or to a charity of their choice.

The family is planning a memorial service for Roger in June. His cremains will be interred at Sitka National Cemetery, with full USCG Military Honors, and under the flagpole at Arrowhead Transfer; Roger’s second home for 32 years. Details will be published in a future edition of the Daily Sitka Sentinel.

Theodosy “Dosy” Timothy Merculief

Services have been scheduled for Theodosy “Dosy” Timothy Merculief, Khan-naa-goot, who died April 9 in a boat accident. He was 41.

A wake will be held at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi house, Sunday through 11 a.m. Monday. Masks and social distancing will be in place.

The funeral will be at noon at St. Michael’s Cathedral. (Face covering and social distancing will be the protocol, and masks will be by the door.)

Following the funeral, burial will be at the Russian Orthodox Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.

Those with questions may contact Jay Merculief-Barker via Facebook messenger.

Dosy was born May 17, 1979, in Sitka, the son of Terenty Alan Merculief of St. George and Alberta Christine Duncan of Angoon, who had met while students at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. They married after graduation, and had a son Terenty Jr.

Terenty Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, where the family lived three years and where their second child, Robert, was born. Jay arrived soon after they returned to the U.S., and Dosy was the youngest; his mother adored him. 

Dosy graduated from Sitka High in 2000. He had various jobs around Sitka – at Schmolck’s, Sitka National Park Service, UAS, Triple A, Spenard Builders Supply, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, SEARHC, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Dosy was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hiking, hunting and being out on the boat. If he could have been on the boat every day, he would have. Getting his food and putting it away to feed his family was extremely important to him. He loved his children more than anything and talked about them to everyone.

He also talked about what an amazing mother Natalie was to their children and how she was always keeping Aliyah busy. Aliyah runs, did roller derby, volleyball and swimming.

Dosy’s favorite month was August because it was the beginning of hunting season. He was so proud to name his son August (Auggie). He would get so excited just talking about hunting season coming up so he could go out on the boat and up the mountain. 

Dosy was also in pool league for several years and tried never to miss a game. He was very passionate about pool league and getting together with his team. 

He loved Sitka, and never planned on leaving.

Dosy was preceded in death by his beloved mother Alberta Christine Duncan of the Deeisheeta’an clan from Angoon; his maternal grandparents Mary and Robert Duncan of Angoon, and his paternal grandparents Terenty and Mary Merculief from St. George. 

Survivors include his father, Terenty Alan Merculief II of Sitka; brothers Terenty Jay Merculief of Juneau and Robert Merculief (Theresa) of Anchorage; sister Jay Merculief-Barker (Pat Barker Jr.) of Sitka; his significant other, Natalie Wojcik, Sitka; daughter Aliyah Shayanne Merculief, Sitka; sons August Thomas Merculief and Xavier Theodore Merculief, both of Sitka.

Dosy’s father had nine siblings and his mother had 13, and those family members had many children. In all, Dosy had well over 100 first cousins. 

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers are Jimmi Jensen, Robert Merculief, Tom Gamble, Jefferey Duncan, Patrick Barker Jr., Andrew Atkinson, Rich Didrickson, David Johnson, Frank Bentley, Jeffrey Young, and Mitchell Young.

The family extended “a huge heartfelt thank you” to the first responders and others: Tom Climo, Bae Widmier, Camila Gomez Duclos, Trooper Ferguson, Officer Martin, Emmitt Anderson, Nicole Duclose, Terry Perensovich, the Sitka Fire Department, Sitka Police Department, and SEARHC doctors, nurses, lab and other staff.

Apologies were extended to anyone who might have been missed.

“The outpouring from the first responders, community, friends and family has been unbelievable,” the Merculiefs and Natalie said.

Betty Lorraine Weisenburger

Loving mother and grandmother Betty Lorraine Weisenburger died April 6, shortly after moving into the Sitka Pioneers Home. She was 89.

She was born in Ione, Washington, October 19, 1931, the daughter of Ted and Tansy Barton. In 1948, she met and married Harold Weisenburger, in Everett, Washington. In 1960, they, together with their three daughters, moved to Sitka, where Harold went to work for Alaska Lumber and Pulp. Betty worked full-time at several of the local grocery stores, including the ALP commissary and Sitka Cold Storage.

She was a gifted artist and seamstress, and loved to make wedding and birthday cakes. In her early years she was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling to Alaska bowling tournaments.

She was always ready to help and contributed many hours volunteering for various functions at the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge, and was active in the Emblem Club and Women of the Moose, holding several offices.

Even though she wasn’t born in Alaska, her heart and soul were deeply entwined here. Numerous offers came to move south from family, but she was adamant about not leaving her island.

“You could take Betty out of Sitka but it always called to her to come home,” her family said. 

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years. She’s survived by three daughters: Laura Larson of Chelan, Washington; Judy Pugh, Riverside, California; and Nancy McGraw, Sitka. She also is survived by seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A private family memorial will be held in Sitka, this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sitka Emblem Club, P.O. Box 142, Sitka.

Her family expressed “special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Sitka Pioneer Home for their compassion and kindness.”

Thomas E. Lang, a 25-year Sitka resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 15, with family surrounding him. He was 87.

At his request, a graveside service will be held Friday, April 23, at the Metlakatla Cemetery. Friends and family members are welcome to attend.

Tom was born in Metlakatla, and was a fisherman; his seine boats over the years were the Verna, the Jackie and the Yvonne Denise.

He moved to Sitka after retiring from fishing, then returned to Metlakatla five years ago.

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Lang Jr.

Survivors include a brother, Gary C. Lang of Sitka.

“Tom lived his life the only way he knew how; his way,” Gary said.

“Good night, and goodbye to a master seiner. RIP, Tom.”

Betty Lou (Fink) Howey

A memorial for Betty Lou (Fink) Howey, a longtime Sitka resident, will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 23, at Sitka Memorial Park, 803 Sawmill Creek Road.

Those attending will have an opportunity to give comments.

Betty died April 9 in Sitka, at the age of 86.

She was born Aug. 31, 1934, in Wisconsin, and  traveled to Sitka in 1954 in search of adventure and good employment.

She worked in payroll at Alaska Pulp Corp. from 1953 to 1993, and was  an employee and part owner of both the Nugget Restaurant and Lulu’s Diner, and maintained a variety of odd jobs well into her 70s. A customer told of going to Lulu’s for breakfast several years ago and finding Betty was alone, doing the serving, cooking, running the cash register and cleaning up – and smiling and visiting while she soloed.

Outgoing, energetic and funny, she was active in many community organizations, including the Sitka Russian Dancers. She joined the group when it formed and performed multiple shows daily every summer, seldom missing a practice right up until the mandatory retirement age.

She sponsored Howey’s Nuggets softball team, and was a player for more than 20 years, while also taking part in women’s and couples bowling leagues.

“Mom was a true Sitka pioneer,” her family said. “She was a fun-loving, devoted and faithful member of the Sitka community. And though osteoporosis and age had an impact on her physically, her spirit and determination only increased with age.

“Her body eventually disintegrated (from) osteoporosis, but there was no quit in her. She simply refused to give up, and was constantly in search of means to repair her body.”

Her daily workouts at the gym were limited somewhat by COVID, but “she couldn’t wait to return again to her exercise routine, and literally frequented the gym ‘to her last day,’” her family said.

Betty is survived by her sons Bradley Howey (Edwina) of Lewiston, Idaho, and Bryan Howey (Dana) of Sitka;  grandchildren Ellexis Broschat (Andrew) of Sitka, Ashley Snooks (James) of Juneau, and Brent Howey, Talia Howey and Sarah Howey, all of Lewiston; and her sister Patty Colton of Elma, Washington.

Dorothy Martin

Former Sitka teacher Dorothy Martin, 87, passed away on March 30, 2021, in Aloha, Oregon.

She was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1933. She moved to Sitka in 1965 to begin her adventurous teaching career in logging camps, for three years teaching first through sixth grades in a one-room school house.

Dorothy’s life filled with passion and adventure for her family started when she packed up her five young kids and dog to travel on four different types of planes from Portland, Oregon, to Rodman Bay Logging Camp in Southeast Alaska. It was her first time flying ever!  

Dorothy next was a fifth-grade teacher for 16 years at Sitka’s Etolin Street School, where she was known for teaching students her famous crafts of copper tooling pictures and wax stars for Christmas.

Dorothy was constantly on the move, playing tennis, volleyball, softball and painting. She enjoyed giving tennis lessons to children and adults while living in Sitka.

Dorothy retired in 1984, moving to Aloha where she was a substitute teacher. She then worked at a major Tennis Center, from which she retired at age 75.  She continued to play tennis into her late 70’s and continued painting until she was 85.

 Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Galen Martin and son-in-law Michael McClelland.

Dorothy’s legacy will live on through her six children: Rick (Anne) Martin, Linda Martin, Cindy (George) Pollitt, Karen McClelland, Debbie (Rick) Delmoral, and Christy (Michael) May.

She also is survived by 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Nancy Johnson and Katie Young; and many nieces and nephews, including  Tammy (Gary) Perensovich of Sitka. 

Dorothy was a very loving, giving and determined lady who made everyone she met feel important and cared for like she was their missing mother, grandparent, or friend, her family said.

“We will miss her every day and will continue sharing all of the lessons and stories she passed on to us,” they said. “We are truly blessed to have shared a loving and adventurous life with Dorothy. Please share your fondest memories on her Tribute page www.forevermissed.com/dorothyannmartin/about. Thank you for all the prayers. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to her favorite charity – STRIVE Inc at www.striveinc.org.’’

Dorothy Pauline Williams

Dorothy Pauline Williams passed away January 30, 2021, in the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle after a courageous battle with several health problems. She was 55.

Pauline was born in Sitka Oct. 31, 1965, the daughter of Father Michael and Emily (Marks) Williams. The family moved to Juneau, and after her high school graduation Pauline moved to Tacoma, Washington, where she obtained her commercial driver’s license as a truck driver.

She married Richard Hudson, and after starting a family they chose to return to her beloved Alaska to live a subsistence lifestyle in the Port Protection area on Prince of Wales Island.

She was very blessed in her motherhood and had unconditional love for her family and the countless numbers of kids who called her “mom” over the years.

Years later, she moved back to Juneau to a job she loved – being a Capital Transit Bus Driver – so she could meet new people.  She volunteered to drive her friends, family and acquaintances to help them shop, chat over coffee or get them to appointments. She was generous in helping others.

She is survived by her daughters, Leilani Williams, Rainy Hudson and  Raven Hudson; her son Regal Hudson; and numerous grandchildren.

She also is survived by siblings Billy, Sue, Edward, Gordon, Kevin, James, Howard, Leon and Tilly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Hudson;   sons Royal Hudson and Roman Hudson; granddaughter Rikki Hudson; and siblings Robert, Natasha and Anita.

Funeral services and a celebration of her life will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. A graveside service will be 2 p.m. at Sitka Memorial Park; and a celebration of her life will be at 3 p.m.  at Halibut Point Recreation Area. Those attending are asked to bring a side dish to share.

Dorik Mechau

After a stoic five-month struggle with cancer, former Sitkan Dorik Mechau, 87, passed away in mid-February at his home in Palisade, Colorado.

Dorik and his wife Carolyn Servid moved from Sitka to his home state of Colorado in August 2017 to be near his family.

Dorik was born in Denver in 1933 to celebrated artist/painter Frank Mechau and his wife Paula. In 1938, the family moved to the abandoned coal-mining town of Redstone, Colorado, tucked in the beautiful Crystal River Valley. At the time, the Mechaus were among only two or three families living in Redstone. Eight years later, Frank Mechau’s tragic death of a heart attack at 42 forced the family to make temporary moves for Paula to find work, but they continued to return to Redstone, and the family home there has remained a foundational cornerstone for more than 70 years and a place Dorik deeply loved. 

He graduated from high school in the nearby town of Carbondale and earned a B.A. in liberal arts in 1956 from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. St. John’s Socratic exploration of the Great Books was influential throughout Dorik’s life—a life filled with a wide range of interesting work. After college, he married Margaret Beston of Maine, started a family, and began work for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, shortly after the Russian launch of the Sputnik satellite triggered a significant ramping up of the U.S. space program. He held several positions during his ten years with the Smithsonian, including running the Satellite Tracking Station in Maui, Hawaii, and establishing, in partnership with a university in Athens, Greece, an experimental observatory to conduct geodetic research on continental drift.

In 1968, when his tenure with the Smithsonian ended, Dorik moved with his family to Alaska to take the job of associate director of development at Alaska Methodist University in Anchorage. Additional positions and responsibilities during his six years at AMU triggered his interest in a number of Alaskan issues, including significant changes occurring in the state after the discovery of oil on the North Slope.

When AMU closed its doors in 1975, Dorik and his family moved to a small farm in the rural community of Haines, Oregon, where he tried his hand at raising hay and doing minimal farming. He returned repeatedly, however, to Alaska for intermittent consulting and contract work for organizations and institutions as varied as the Department of Community and Regional Affairs, the Alaska Native Education Board, the Alaska Growth Policy Council, and the University of Alaska. The common threads in this work were education (especially Native and bilingual education), the arts and humanities, and public policy issues.

After he and his wife Margaret divorced, Dorik returned to Alaska from 1983-85 to work for the Alaska Native Review Commission which undertook the important work of evaluating the consequences, especially in village Alaska, of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed by Congress in 1971. The project concluded with the publication of Village Journey by Thomas Berger who led the Commission.

During a subsequent five-year hiatus from Alaska, Dorik had the chance to do other things he loved—working with his hands or putting in a good day of physical labor. On two different occasions, he used his considerable talents in architectural design and construction to help Colorado family members build beautiful additions to their homes—one a spacious light-filled living room and the other a handsome study to accommodate a noteworthy collection of books that was, ingeniously, measured in linear feet to determine the shelf space required.

Dorik returned to Alaska in 1989 for two years as interim executive director of the Alaska Humanities Forum. On a visit to Sitka to meet with Forum grantees, he met Carolyn Servid, co-founder and director of The Island Institute. That auspicious meeting prompted him to choose to move to Sitka in 1991, and their subsequent marriage grew into an exceptional partnership of devotion to each other and to expanding the work of the Island Institute. Dorik became co-director and brought in his interests in community sustainability to complement the organization’s existing literary programs focused on the nexus of story, place, and community.

Sitkans soon came to know Dorik as Island Institute community forums became regular events. Topics ranged from community conflict to the purpose of education to the future of tourism. Over time, the Institute developed an Initiative for Civic Collaboration, led by Dorik, which resulted in two significant community endeavors: the first created a Municipal Solid Waste Plan implemented by the City and Borough; the second produced a carefully detailed Tourism Plan that ultimately was simplified to gain broad community support. Dorik was also involved in the creation of two Sitka Community Indicators reports produced jointly by Turning Point Toward Health and the Island Institute. These efforts, along with many others, allowed him to collaborate with Sitkans from widely different backgrounds and perspectives, something he particularly enjoyed. 

Beyond his work with the Island Institute, Dorik also volunteered in the community, serving six years on the board of directors of both the Sitka Conservation Society and Raven Radio. Many KCAW listeners knew his voice from the Sunday Raven Anthology program where he and Carolyn Servid read short stories. He also loved to sing, especially the repertoire of folk songs from early years when he and his mother and three siblings sang as the Mechau Balladeers at private parties and public concerts. His martinis were legendary among his Sitka friends, as was his hospitality, acuity, and dry wit that went with them. He was known, too, for his love of carefully honed questions and meaningful conversation. His life and work established an admiring circle of friends and colleagues that spans the continent.

Dorik is survived by his wife Carolyn Servid; his siblings Vanni Lowdenslager, Duna Stephens (Jack) and Mike Mechau (Blakely); his children Clarissa Whitehead (Johnny), Mark Mechau (Fionnuala), and Mally Strong; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Those wanting to honor Dorik with a contribution might donate to Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, or Food and Water Watch.

Nancy Carol Phillips

Nancy Carol Phillips, 83, took her last walk into the forest on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Nancy was born in Hydaburg, the daughter of Edward and Leona Hamilton. She was raised at Hydaburg and Waterfall Cannery along with her brothers and sisters. Her father was a salmon seiner and her mother worked the cannery line during the salmon season.

Nancy attended Sheldon Jackson High School.

She married Jake Phillips and they moved to Pelican in 1962. 

Nancy fished many years – for salmon, halibut and sablefish. She started fishing with Jake in 1956, trolling for salmon on the Lila C, and they went on to own and fish the F/V’s Kruzof, Aloha, Nancy K, Shamrock, and Lea. They fished the offshore waters of Southeast Alaska, and went fishing for tuna as far south as San Diego, fishing for halibut and salmon as far west as Kodiak Island, and seining for salmon out of Hydaburg.

Nancy was a fisherman’s daughter and an equal partner power trolling for salmon with Jake, with their young sons aboard. She was a sight to see, gaffing salmon and pulling them aboard, the whole gambit – cleaning, icing and unloading.

The crew who worked with Nancy knew her to outwork many of them. And she was the “best cook,” providing many a hot meal for the hardworking crew! Her sons and grandsons inherited her work ethic.

After retiring from a life on the sea, Nancy and Jake enjoyed their days at their Sunnyside cabin near Pelican, watching the grandchildren grow before their elder years moved them to Sitka.

Nancy was a renowned jigsaw puzzle worker, and she enjoyed playing cards with her lady friends. She loved spending time with family – family was everything to her. Nancy got much enjoyment seeing her great-grandchildren play and appreciated her grandsons bringing their kids around.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Jack D. Phillips; son James E. Phillips (Patricia); sisters Jessie Carlson and Arlene Carle; brother Matthew Carle; sister-in-law Bonnie Grant; brother-in-law George Phillips; and daughters Joanne Glendenning (Stuart), Maura O’Brien Phillips, Penney Phillips and Debbie Reeder (Fred).

Also surviving are her  grandsons James Phillips (Kyla), Jordan Phillips (Mercedes), Frederick Phillips (Shari), Carl Phillips, Jeb Phillips (Angela Bertagnoli), and Aaron Phillips (Carolyn Kvernvik); granddaughter Crystal Stoner (Dennis); five great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Nancy was preceded in death by her son John C. Phillips; parents Ed and Leona Hamilton; sisters Frances Brown, Willa Randall, Evelyn Hill and Barbara Leask; and brothers Jonathan, Edward, and William Hamilton. 

In honoring Nancy’s wishes, no formal services will be held.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to a favorite charity.

Peggy (Johnson) Goss

Peggy (Johnson) Goss, loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many, passed away due to breast cancer April 28, 2021, in Anacortes, Washington. She was 70.

She was born December 28, 1950, in Central Valley, California. She grew up in Sitka, with her siblings, Charlotte, Billy, Gary, Larry, Richard, Charlie, Sonny, Janice and Eddie.  

Peggy lovingly raised her three children, Chelcy, Gary and Joey, in Anacortes, Washington. 

She worked on Washington State ferries for 19 years, making lifelong friendships. 

Peggy had a passion for making people laugh. She was known for her quick wit, infectious laugh, and off-the-wall humor. 

Preceding Peggy in death were her parents Wes and Murna Johnson, and siblings Billy, Eddie, Sonny and Charlotte.

She is survived by her three children, Chelcy Beatty, Gary Goss and Joey Goss, all of Anacortes; her six grandchildren, Carley Beatty, Kendall Beatty, Ashley Goss, Brittany Goss, Makenna Goss, and Coleman Goss; and many nieces and nephews.

She also is survived by her siblings Gary, Larry, Richard, Charlie Johnson and Janice Meabon.

Services are pending in Anacortes. Those wishing to contact the family may go to gosshc@comcaast.net. 

Jonathan Joseph Litman

Jonathan Joseph Litman was born Oct. 26, 1960, with Down syndrome. Rejecting the pediatrician’s advice to put Jon in an institution, his parents, Norma and Marshall, decided to raise Jon at home, despite having very low expectations for his future. Little did they know that Jon would become the celebrity of the family, charming everyone he met. 

The youngest of six children, Jon grew up in a noisy and rambunctious family in Whittier, California, where he was loved and treasured. His mother Norma was a nursery school teacher who believed in the power of experiential learning to develop a child’s natural talents and abilities. Norma and Marshall immersed Jon in a rich and varied social and physical world, including traveling throughout North and Central America, and Europe.

Jon enriched the lives of all who knew him. He danced like John Travolta in “Grease,” gave thumbs-up like the Fonz, dispensed wisdom (“that’s life,” “times change”), and kept us laughing with his masterful gestures and impersonations. 

Jon loved old movies, and could recite the years and stars of his favorite films. He was an avid sports fan, wisely waiting until the end of the game or season before deciding which team he supported (always the winner). Nonetheless, he demonstrated lifelong loyalty to the California Angels—even when that required him to tweak their record a bit. Jon had a vast collection of baseball cards, which he sorted according to some rule that only he knew. In addition to enjoying spectator sports, Jon himself was an athlete. He won medals in basketball, swimming, and skiing, along with all his fellow Special Olympic athletes. 

Jon was a gentle and caring uncle to 10 nephews and nieces and a growing cohort of grand-nephews and -nieces. As the little ones matured, Jon’s family witnessed an endearing role reversal, in which the nephews and nieces gracefully and lovingly assisted and supported their Uncle Jon. 

Jon lived independently for most of his adult life, with assistance from family, the Regional Center system, and CAPC, Inc., a non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their lives. Jon was very proud of his job at Polly’s Pies Cafe, where he worked for 30 years, and equally enthusiastic about his subsequent retirement. He insisted on a “retirement party” at every family reunion. Jon loved his high school sweetheart and life-long fiancé, Teri Westbrook. When his parents moved to Davis, California, in the early 1990s, Jon chose to stay in Whittier to continue his relationship with Teri and his “very important work” at Polly’s Pies. According to CAPC Director of Services Edith Fierro, “Jon was a pioneer. He pioneered independent living. What he did was unheard of in those days.” Jon and Teri were featured in an episode of the PBS series Visionaries, hosted by actor Sam Waterston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs7JTYlHXwg

In 2013, Jon moved to Sacramento to be close to his oldest sister, Laurie. There he established new routines, walking three miles each day to buy his lunch, listening to disco and Motown, watching sports on television, organizing his baseball cards, and staying very busy. He spent a month every year in Sitka, visiting his sister Cindy and brother Michael and celebrating Christmas with Cindy’s family.

Sadly, many people with Down syndrome have a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease, and Jon started showing signs of the disease soon after he moved to Sacramento. For the first several years he was still able to do all the things he loved: walk each day, make his special burritos, and fly alone for visits to siblings in Sitka and Southern California, but little by little he lost those capabilities.

Over the last year or two, Jon’s condition deteriorated to the point that he could no longer maintain his independent lifestyle, but thanks to a team of wonderful caregivers he was able to fulfil his desire to remain in his apartment. As his disease progressed and he entered hospice care, Jon continued to enjoy life, music, and visiting with family via Zoom until the end. His five siblings were with him when he died peacefully on April 2, 2021.

“Having Jon as a member of our family was a great gift, and we are happy that we helped him live life on his terms and to the fullest extent possible,” his family said. “Jon was the happiest and most self-confident person we know. He taught us that living a rich, kind, and loving life is the end goal, intellectual ability is insignificant, family is everything, and John Travolta rules.”

Although he was largely unaware of it, Jon’s independence required a team of helpers, and he was lucky to have the best. His family thanked Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center, which trained Jon in life skills, and especially Miriam, who played a special role and had a special place in Jon’s heart, even going on double dates with Jon and Teri. CAPC supported Jon to live independently while he remained in Whittier and he had especially warm relationships with Edith and Jeannette.

“Alta Regional Center in Sacramento has been amazing, treating Jon with great respect and finding ways to support and keep him living independently as his abilities declined,” his family said. “Special thanks to Edward, B.J., and many caregivers who went above and beyond expectations in their kindness to him, and to his loving caregiver and friend Carol, the best of the best. We are forever grateful for all their support, and believe that caregivers deserve significant respect—and commensurately significant pay.”

Jon leaves behind five siblings: Laurie (Sacramento), Cindy (Sitka), Michael (Sitka), Todd (Victoria, B.C., Canada), and Kerry (Claremont, California) Litman. He also will be missed by four loving brother- and sisters-in-law, and two generations of Litman, Guevin, Tabangcura, and Steele nieces and nephews.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Norma and Marshall Litman, his beloved brother-in-law Tony Guevin, and his fiancé Teri Westbrook. A celebration of Jon’s life will take place in Sacramento on his favorite day of the year, October 26, his birthday. 

“In lieu of flowers we ask that you practice love and kindness, and dance to disco or sing 1970s love songs in celebration of Jon’s life,” his family said. 

For those who wish to honor Jon with a donation, contributions may be made to the Jon Litman Memorial Fund at CAPC, Inc. Jon thrived from a life filled with enriching and challenging experiences. The Jon Litman Memorial Fund will be used to enrich the lives of people like Jon. CAPC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that relies on donations to fund the services it provides. Those who choose to donate online, should write “Jon Litman Memorial Fund” in “Comments About Your Donation.” Those who prefer to send a donation by mail, should write “Jon Litman Memorial Fund” on the memo line of the check. Credit card donations can be made online at:

https://www.capcinc.org/donate/ Checks should be made payable to CAPC, Inc. and mailed to: 

CAPC, Inc.

7702 Washington Ave

Whittier, CA 90602

Steven Daniel Lawrence

A celebration of the life of Steven Daniel Lawrence will be held 3 to 8 p.m. May 29 at Old Sitka.

Steven passed away April 28 in Anchorage, at the age of 41.

Steven was born June 24, 1979, in Sitka, the son of Deborah K. Gillian and Barton E. Lawrence. He attended Sitka High School, and through Youth Working a Mission he traveled around Europe and South Africa.

Over the years he was a carpenter, a contractor, a youth counselor, cultural artist and an all-around jack-of-all-trades.

He was a hard worker, very responsible, loved everyone, and was kind and considerate, his family said.

He also hunted with a bow and arrow. An excellent marksman, he harvested Native food for his family – and was an excellent cook!

Steven was preceded in death by his father, Barton E. Lawrence; his grandparents, Marjorie and Franklin Peters; and a cousin, Marcus Brady.

He is survived by his mother, Deborah K. Gillian, and his brother, Joshua J. Lawrence, both of Sitka; nephews Andrew Lawrence and Eli Lawrence; aunts and uncles Grace Gillian, Rose Tutiakoff, Dolly and David Didrickson, Jim and Donna Gillian, Georgia  and Mike Hopson, Marjorie and Emmanual Staub, Ralph Brady, and Tim Tutiakoff Jr.

Cousins include Richard Didrickson, David Didrickson, Daisy Karasti, Sandra Campbell, Brendon Didrickson, Elijah Didrickson, Timothy Tutiakoff III, Jeremy Tutiakoff, Jim Gillian Jr., Patrick Gillian, Kyle Gillian, Tamaria Hillman, Tasha McGill, Christina Hopson-Brown, Michelle Hopson, Celeste Sandstrom, Maria Juarez, Jesse Marquez, Talia Staub, Marjorie Privett, Christopher Gazagian, Gabriel Staub  and Jennie Lawrence.

Lucille “Lou” Marie Primacio

Lucille “Lou” Marie Primacio, a Sitka resident since 1976, passed away April 27 in Anchorage, at the age of 76.

A service is planned June 26 at the Halibut Point Recreation Area, main shelter, from noon to 4 p.m.. An afterhours party is to follow at the Moose Lodge.

Lou was born Jan. 25, 1945, in Sacramento, California, the daughter of Robert and Pauline Poquiz.

She and Robert “Primo” Primacio were married Feb. 12, 1965, in Juneau. In 1967 they moved to Hawaii, where she worked as a tour guide and supervisor at the Kahuku Sugar Mill. After they came to Sitka, in 1967, she worked at Alaska Pulp Co. and at SEARHC hospital, in the warehouse and finance offices.

Both Lou and Primo were cooks, and Lou was well-known for hosting Hawaiian luaus and having booths at the 4th of July celebrations.

Friendly and outgoing, she  loved dancing, playing cards, crocheting, picking berries and going camping.

She was an avid member of the Moose Lodge and American Legion, and was active in their community events.

Her family summed up her life in a  loving tribute:

“Our family grieves the loss of our beloved matriarch, our mother, Lucille (Lou) Primacio, known to most as ‘Auntie Lou.’ It’s such a hard task to summarize such a wonderful life without writing a book. Our mom has always been our hero and rock star and she will always be our way of life.

“She has raised her four children to live life with respect for others and to always be hard workers and to always finish the job started. Most importantly she taught us how to love. Most everyone knew that when you encountered Auntie Lou she would always give you a hug and a kiss on the cheek even if it was the first time she met you. It’s just the Hawaiian way and she was all about spreading the aloha (or love).

“We will always be sure to tell our children and grandchildren about their Grandma Lou and how much she loved dancing and how she could out-dance many of us to the moon and back.

“In our mom’s last days, she was in Anchorage, and the day she passed  Anchorage had a 4.8 earthquake. We like to think she shook the earth with her dance moves one last time before she left ·earth to heaven, to be with her true love.

“Our mom loved to stay busy and lent a helping hand when and wherever she could. She worked hard and played hard. What she loved and enjoyed most was making people happy, through food and dance ... and we know she’s dancing in the sky right now. We love you, Mom. Rest in Paradise. A hui hou – until we meet again.”

Lou was preceded in death by her husband Primo, on May 7, 2010; by her parents, Robert and Pauline Poquiz; and siblings Donicea (Toni) Poquiz, Juliana Poquiz and Dimingo Poquiz.

She is survived by her daughters, Maria Kesanooksisk and Rhonda (Bruce) Conine, all of Sitka, and sons Bronson (Estelita) Primacio of Sitka, and David (Traci) Nugent of Juneau; and sisters Arlene Poquiz (Tom Singer) of Sitka, and Suzanne Poquiz (Felipe Gutierrez) of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Her grandchildren are David’s children, Joshua Nugent and Melissa Steele of Juneau; Rhonda’s children, Danielle Winterrose of Walnut Creek, California, and Kayla Lawnicki of Craig; and Bronson’s children, Isaiah Primacio and Naiomi Primacio, Sitka.

Many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.

Cards to the family can be sent to Rhonda Conine, 718 A Street, Sitka, AK 99835.

Memorial donations to Lou Primacio may be made to the Sitka Moose Family Center, marked for the kitchen remodel project. “Our mom really wanted to do something for that kitchen – she spent many volunteered hours in there,” her family said.

The address is 337 Lincoln Street, Sitka, AK 99835.