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Billie Belle Barry
1934-2007
Billie Barry, 73, born July 9, 1934 in Howe, Texas, passed away on Dec. 18, 2007 at her home in Camdenton, Missouri.
Billie had a strong devotion and love for her family and that love will live on forever through them.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Nina Mae Coffey, and father, Reece Davis; a sister, Geraldine Fisk; one grandson; one great-grandson; and one niece.
Billie is survived by her five children, Doug Mahle of Juneau; Jerry Mahle and wife Sarena of Juneau; Steve Barry and wife Angela of Pueblo West, Colo.; Lynda Dailey and husband Scott of Camdenton; Donnina Ullrich and husband John of Mack Creek, Mo.; a sister Margie Anton and husband Bill of Chugiak; a brother Bob Coffey and wife Dori of Anchorage; 16 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one niece and nephew; and two great-great nieces.
A memorial service honoring her life was held at the Lake Family Church in Camdendon on Dec. 27.
Her wish was to return to Alaska. In lieu of flowers, if anyone wishes to help the family in taking her back to Alaska, a memorial fund has been established at Central Bank of Lake of the Ozarks, 170 E. Highway 54, Camdendon, MO 65020. The account is under the names Doug Heritage and Margie Anton.
Walter E. Gordon
1953-2007
Jonelle E. Butler
1954-2006
Walter Eric Gordon was born to Elizabeth Marie and Walt Gordon on May 11, 1953 in Skagway. He was quickly nicknamed “Corky” because of his energy and curiosity of life. He later chose to be called Walt. Walt grew up in California and was joined by his sister Gigi in 1954. In 1972 brother David joined the family.
Walt and Lynn lived in Everett, Washington and raised two daughters. Walt was a skilled carpenter, working on many projects in the Pacific Northwest. Daughter Erica gave “Grandpa” two beautiful grandchildren. Walt moved to Coulee City, Wash. where he enjoyed fishing, his cats and his dog, Sonny. Walt showed a generous and compassionate nature to all his many friends. He was loved and respected by all.
He now has rejoined his dad, mom and sister. Walt died December 19, 2007. He is survived by his two daughters Danyel and Erica, his two grandchildren Brianna and Anthony, his brother David, his stepfather David Pepper, aunts Patty, Peggy and Lorene, and uncles Mike, Buddy, Gary and Alvin, many cousins and a circle of great friends.
The family also remembers Jonelle Elizabeth (Gordon) (Stentz) Butler, who passed on Jan. 10, 2006. She was born in Skagway on Oct. 17, 1954 to Elizabeth Marie Gordon and Walter Gordon.
“Gigi” grew up in California and later travled to Florida, Alaska, and finally Oregon. Her biggest loves were her boys Josh and Jake and her animals. She enjoyed life and definitely knew what she wanted, and no one needed to tell her differently.
She is survived by her two sons, grandaughter Lili, brother David, aunts Patty and Peggy, uncles Alvin and Gary, amy nieces and nephews, and her circle of good friends.
We all miss this great man and this lovely lady with the great smile, and we rejoice in their lives. They walk with the Lord in peace. Rest in peace Gigi and Corky, we love you. See ya later Babe.
Herbert K. Smail
1930-2007
Former Fairbanks and Skagway resident Herbert K. Smail, 77, of Malcolm, Neb., died Friday, Nov. 12, 2007.
Born in Arona, Pa., on June 1, 1930, Herb was a graduate of Greensburg (Pa.) High School in 1948. He lettered in football at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. and at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont.
He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves from 1950-1954. He was employed for two years as a switch foreman for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Laurel, Mont., and two years as a part-time longshoreman for the White Pass Railroad in Skagway. He also raised and trained Morgan show horses for several years.
Smail received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1954 and a master of science degree in 1962. He then received a doctor of education degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1974.
He was selected as outstanding educator in the Western United States, taught public high school and coached junior high and high school basketball in Dixon, Mont., and Skagway, Fairbanks and Klawock. He served as school superintendent Wamsutter, Wyo., and Palisade, Neb., and retired as associate director of Summer Sessions, University of Nebraska-Lincoln in June 1991.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peg” Smail of Malcolm; sons, Dion K. Smail of Ashland, David B. Smail of Fairbanks and Kevin R. Smail of Lincoln; brother, Harry L. Smail of Greensburg, Pa., and family; and niece, Beverly Ann (Wentzel) Lutz of Jeanette, Pa., and family.
Memorials may be sent to the family in care of Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 0 St., Lincoln, NE 68510.
Gerald Thomas Revis
1941-2007
Gerald Thomas Revis was born May 3, 1941 in Doyle, Tennessee. He always called it TENNessee not TenneSEE. He was the youngest of four boys born to Frank and Gertrude Revis. His dad went to work in Detroit at a car factory and his mother and Gerald followed later. He pretty much grew up in the motor city where he attended Catholic school.
Gerald served his country in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964 and in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1967 during the Vietnam conflict. After his discharge, Gerald went back to Doyle and went to welding school. It was around 1975 that he came to Skagway for the first time. He visited his brother Bob, who was owner-operator of the old Sourdough Hotel and Pool Hall. He was employed as a casual longshoreman with the White Pass & Yukon Route beginning in May 1975. He went back to Tennessee near the end of ‘75.
Years later, in 1995, Gerald returned to Skagway and became part of the family. He lived with Sandy and quickly assumed the role of Grandpa. After a brief stint of washing dishes at the Sweet Tooth, Gerald went to work at White Pass on April 27, 1995 as a carman welder. He officially retired from White Pass on Nov. 1 of this year.
Gerald loved Sandy and he loved her children and their children. His happiest moments were with his new grandchildren. His eyes would just sparkle as he talked about them.
His love of children convinced him to play Santa Claus at the Eagles Christmas Eve ceremony. Even then, his health wasn’t the greatest. He had suffered a bout with throat cancer which destroyed his saliva glands. He had to have water handy most of the time. Even so, he wore that hot Santa suit under those scorching stage lights and made a very happy Christmas for the children in our community.
He finally decided to make an honest woman out of Sandy and married her on January 1, 2002.
Gerald loved to play poker and really liked Larry the Cable Guy. “GIT’R DONE!” He got such a kick out of that and loved the gift of a lighter that rang with the saying. He also liked to share military stories over a little Tennessee moonshine that somehow made its way to Skagway. George Jones’ “White Lightning” was one of his favorite songs.
Gerald was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. It was quite advanced and he did not want to go through any treatment. He wanted to come home and be with his family. He passed on Dec. 2. Gerald was a big part of our lives. I hope he touched yours. We will miss him very much.
Gerald is survived by his wife Sandra Noack-Revis; stepdaughters Tammy Cochran and her husband Tom, Tina Mayo and her husband Ken; grandchildren Thomas and Kerry Cochran, Tyler Cochran and Jessica Wilcox, Trevor Cochran, Brandy Mayo and K.C. Mayo; great-grandsons Joshua, Tannen and Kaleb Cochran. He is also survived by quite a few nephews and nieces in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, and Kentucky. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents all three brothers and one nephew. – From a eulogy given at the Elks memorial service on Dec. 7.
Maurice ‘Ted’ Tidwell
1938-2007
Maurice Hartwell “Ted” Tidwell, 69, passed away on November 28, 2007 in Tacoma, Washington after a year-long struggle with cancer.
Ted was born July 27, 1938 in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from Central High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp and was stationed in Okinawa. He brought his young family to Alaska to make his fortune in the early 60s, where he first started working for Paul’s Floor Service in Juneau. Ted started his own carpet business in 1970 which eventually became Arctic Carpet, which continues to this day.
In 1979 Ted married his wife Lucile and they owned and operated various businesses in Skagway, including Irene’s Inn, Sgt. Preston’s Lodge and the infamous Dr. Fun Tours. Ted and his wife retired to Arizona in 1997 and relocated to Haugan, Montana in 2003.
Those who knew him considered Ted to be the world’s best salesman and story-teller, one of his favorite past-times. To this date even his former employees at Dr. Fun Tours cannot say whether the “facts” he gave to tourists were real or made-up. He loved to participate with his wife and family in a variety of activities including fishing, hunting, panning for gold and travel. Ted was known as a quiet and gentle person and had a way of making everyone around him feel comfortable. Ted was also a member of the Skagway Elks Lodge
Ted was predeceased in death by his mother, Mary Alice Smithers; his father, Maurice Hartwell Tidwell, Sr., and his stepdad, Charles W. Smithers; and his stepdaughter Alexandria Woods. He is survived by his wife Lucile of Haugan, Montana; son Steve Tidwell (and Alice Albrecht) of Juneau; daughter Lisa (and Haynes) Tormey of Yuma, Arizona; daughter Lori (and Joe) Croteau of Juneau; stepdaughter Carla (and Kevin) Keely of Tacoma, Washington, Sheldon (and Stephanie) Winters of Juneau, Brent Woods (and Beverly Scoffield) of Sacramento, California; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sister Donna (and Robert) Coss of Nashville, Tennessee, and brothers Grant (and Dedra) Smithers of Nashville, Sean (and Angel) Smithers of Nashville, and Andy Smithers (and Daniel Green) of Phoenix, Arizona.
Ted quietly passed away in the presence of his wife and family members. Services and the gravesi
Edward Charles Hanousek, Sr.
1922-2008
Edward Charles Hanousek, Sr., former Skagway resident and mayor, died of natural causes on March 2, 2008, in Mount Vernon, Washington.
The youngest of eight children of Charles and Emma Hanousek, Ed was born and raised in Snohomish, Washington.
Ed came to Nome, Alaska in 1937 and went to work for Alaska Gold Dredge. He moved to Skagway in 1939 and began his employment with White Pass and Yukon Railroad. From 1941 to 1947, he was enlisted in the United States Navy. When Ed completed his military tour of duty, he returned to Skagway where he met and married Mary Jane, his wife of 55 years.
He served as Skagway’s mayor for several terms and initiated the popular “Clean Sweep” program and instituted concrete sidewalks along State Street. The city also named the former Hanousek Park in Ed’s honor.
Ed retired as superintendent of White Pass and Yukon Railroad in 1982 and relocated to Camano Island, Washington where he enjoyed gardening, farming, and raising cattle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings and son, Jerry. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; son, Gary; son, Ed, Jr. and wife, Wanda; son, Brett and wife, Valorie; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.
A private memorial service to celebrate Ed’s life will be held at a future date.
Irene E. Erickson
1926-2008
Longtime Alaska resident Irene Erickson passed January 6, 2008, in Juneau with her children by her side. She was 81.
Born July 4, 1926 to Ukrainian parents, Steve and Lydia Bokovoy, Irene was raised in Max, North Dakota. Working as a telegraph operator for the railroad in Washington, she met and married Pete Erickson. They were blessed with five children, moving to Alaska aboard the F/V Irene E in search of “a little more elbow room up north” to raise their family. With the vessel needing a few repairs in May 1967, Petersburg seemed a good place to plant their Alaska roots.
Irene commercial fished and worked in the industry for many years. Because of her unique and remarkable ability to make just about anything taste great, she was urged to open “Irene’s Restaurant” in Petersburg and later “Irene’s Inn” in Skagway. She will long be remembered for her homemade soups and pies. Irene was truly an Alaskan pioneer and touched lives of many.
After the passing of Pete in 1984, Irene pursued her quest of travel, once visiting 35 states in less than six weeks, in an attempt to earn state stickers for her motorhome. Aside from her extensive U.S. travel, she made many visits to Mexico and Canada including a memorable six week trip to Australia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pete and sisters Jeanette Rice and Lila Schirmann.
She is survived by: brothers Robert and Roy Bokovoy; sister, Betty Ganje; son Steve, daughter Judy, son Mike and wife Bonnie, Sue Hosford and husband Mike, and daughter Kathy Hosford and husband Fred; grandchildren Stephanie, Rachel, Becky, Jim, Heather, Jared, Clint, Desi, Eric and Christy; great grandchildren Joey, Kelsie, Brittni, Tyler, Devin, Mike, Jesse, Andrew, Camden, Carson, Kali and Aiden.
Services were held at the Alaskan Memorial Park in Juneau on Jan. 11 followed by a reception at Mike Erickson’s home/ Concluding services were held Jan. 13 at Petersburg Bible Church with a graveside service at her final resting place next to Pete. A celebration of her life followed at the Petersburg Moose Lodge.
A memorial fund has been created in honor of Irene to help create awareness of PAD disease through the American Heart Assoc., 3700 Woodland Dr., Suite 700, Anchorage, Alaska 99517.
Shirley W. Jonas
1926-2008
Former Skagway resident Shirley Wilson Jonas died January 28, 2008 at her home in Oregon after a long illness. Shirley was born in Lansing, Mich. on January 28, 1926. She attended Michigan State University. In 1946 she married William Watts. They were divorced after their son’s birth in 1947. During the post-WWII years Shirley was employed as an artist and fashion model in Detroit and New Orleans. In 1956 she married Raphael Snowden of Detroit. They lived in Plymouth, Mich. where their children were born. Snowden died in 1965. She married Bernard von Plessen Jonas in 1966. The Baron von Plessen died in 1994.
Shirley had a lifelong interest in paranormal activity. She founded Barrie Parapsychology Associates in Barrie, Ontario and Michigan Society of Psychical Research in Lansing, Mich. and established The Winnower, a booking agency for psychic fairs and speakers, in Michigan and California. She authored two published non-fiction books, Ghosts of the Klondike, and Now Is The Hour while living in Skagway and Edmonton. This work, coupled with studies of archeology, genealogy and American Indian culture, brought lifelong international friends into her life. She was a caring, lifelong correspondent with many. Shirley moved to Grants Pass, Ore. in 2002.
She is survived by her brother Tom Wilson of Ava, Missouri, a sister Frances Turney of Grants Pass, two sons, Anthony Watts of Coarsegold, Calif., and Harry Snowden of Selma, Ore., a daughter and son-in-law Winifred and Edward Green of Coalhurst, Alberta, Canada, three step-children, Yvonne Roth and Bruce and Max Jonas of Ohio, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Leslie Wyman of Grants Pass, preceded her in death in September, 2007.
A memorial service and internment of ashes will be held at St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church in Williamston, Michigan, in July.
Gifts may be given in her memory to Lovejoy Hospice with warm thanks for their loving care, or to Josephine County Humane Society in grateful appreciation for the companionship of all animals.
Art Nelson
1913-2008
Arthur L. Nelson was born October 13, 1913 in Coffeyville, Kansas. Drafted during World War II, he was sent to Alaska to work on construction of the Alaska Highway.
Home in Colorado on leave, he met and married Maliece Logan. Later assigned by the Army to work on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, he was able to bring his new wife and her young daughter, Ethel, to Skagway.
After the war ended, Art returned to Skagway to work for the White Pass as a civilian employee. During his 30 years with the WP&YR he worked as a carpenter in the car shop, and was also a steward in the Teamsters union.
Art enjoyed hunting and fishing in area lakes and mountains, and spending time with his family at their cabin in Dyea. He retired from the railroad in 1974 and moved to Colorado, and may have been the oldest living WP&YR retiree when he passed away peacefully on August 16, 2008, in Watonga, Oklahoma at the age of 95.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maliece, infant son Johnny, daughter Ethel MacNeill, grandson Melton MacNeill, granddaughter-in-law Barbara MacNeill, his sister Doris, and his brother Roy.
He is survived by his daughter Doris Mielke Grubbs of Greenfield, Oklahoma; son Roy Nelson of Skagway; nephew Chuck Horton of Skagway, niece Dawn Clark of Shelton, Washington; grandsons Robert and Dale MacNeill, David Mielke and granddaughter Lisa Whitehead, all of Skagway; great-grandchildren Dennis MacNeill, Sheena and Heather MacNeill, and Kara, Jessica and Zoe Whitehead, and five great-great-grandchildren.
