Margie Dickson

Margie “Karan” Dickson, 50, died Sept. 11 of lung cancer, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Lazy Mountain Bible Church, 16005 E Shawn Dr. in Palmer. Karan was born on Jan. 11, 1959 in Cordele, Ga., to Jimmy and Margie Purvis. As a Seabee in the Navy, her family lived in Georgia, California, Hawaii and Mississippi. In 1976 she met and fell in love with a young Seabee, Steve Dickson. In 1977 Karan and Steve were married. In 1977 she came to Alaska and lived with her in-laws in Anchorage while Steve was on an assignment to Adak. She following Steve back to Mississippi, Italy, Hawaii and finally back to Alaska.

Always interested in photography, Karan worked several years as a sales rep for Canon Camera Corp. in Hawaii. Then she ran the photo department at the first K-Mart in Anchorage. She later worked at Black Elk Leather and Beads in Anchorage and Rippie World in Wasilla.

To get her daughter into Girl Scouts, Karan was told she had to start her own troop, which she did and followed through as leader from Daises to Brownies and on to Girl Scouts.

Karan loved collecting Barbies, angels, and fairies. She was an avid crafter of leather and beads. Her detailed work won several State Fair awards.

Karan is survived by her husband, Steve Dickson, daughter Angela and son-in-law Adam Cordell, grandchildren, Alan, Andre, Ali and Alexis Cordell of Wasilla, sisters Melinda Short and Katherine Childers of Georgia, father- and mother-in-law David and Isoko Dickson of Eagle River, brother and sister-in-law David and Theresa Dickson of Palmer, and Francis Dickson of Texas. Many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and infant sister Agnes Mae.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. Www.legacyalaska.com