Former Alaskan Daniel V. Carney died Nov. 12 at his home in Clarkston, Wash. Dan was born April 8, 1930 to Charles E. and Margaret C. Carney in New Lexington, Ohio. The second of 11 children, he spent his childhood and youth there and later moved with his family to Austinburg, Ohio where he attended high school. In 1950, Dan came to Alaska and joined the Army, doing his basic training at Fort Richardson and later was assigned to maneuvers at Fort Greely and other Interior outposts.

Dan was discharged in 1952 and homesteaded on the Little Susitna River north of Wasilla, where he became a member of the River Rats, a close-knit group of homesteaders, hunters and trappers in the area.

He was married for a brief time to the late Ethyl Smith (Cooper). He worked in many construction-related enterprises for the next 25 years, including mining, truck driving, equipment operation, labor, roofing, pipe laying and building. Many of his jobs took place in remote islands on the Aleutian Chain in the Bering Sea. In 1975, Dan bought a ranch in Blossom, Texas where he spent the next three years. It was too hot and barren in Texas, so he moved to Clarkston in 1978 where he settled permanently. He was retired, but soon engaged in many entrepreneurial enterprises in that area, including managing a series of rental properties. He was known for his care-taking attitude and made regular morning rounds to check the well-being of many elderly folks.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brothers, Pat and wife Barb of Wasilla; Ed and wife Carol of Clarkston; Nick and wife Kay of St. George, Utah; Doug and wife Florene of Wasilla; Dave and wife Donna of Portland, Ore.; and sisters, Shirley and husband Mike Washut of Jefferson, Ohio; Shirley and husband Mike Washut of Jefferson, Ohio; Linda and husband Neil Thomas of Wasilla; Nancy and husband Al Williams of Wasilla; Cynthia and husband Harry Buzby of Wasilla; Charlene and husband Ron Pine of Wasilla; and 34 nieces and nephews.

According to his wishes, there will be no formal services. His ashes will be scattered in the Bering Sea.