Obituaries

August 17, 2007

Chris Soper

Longtime Palmer resident Chris Robert Soper, 60, died early morning Aug. 11, 2007, peacefully in his sleep. He was with his son, Monte Soper, on a fishing trip for his 61st birthday, which would have been Aug. 12.

Soper died doing what he loved in his favorite place in Alaska, Prince William Sound-Cabin Bay.

A graveside service will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 17 at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. A potluck celebration of life will be held at Monte Soper's home.

Soper was born Aug. 12, 1946, in Glendale, Calif., to William and Billie Soper.

Prior to moving to Alaska, he spent many years driving a truck in northern California and Oregon. He moved his family to Alaska in 1976. He was drawn to Alaska by the hunting, fishing and solitude that this state offers. He logged for many years in Hoonah, Yakatat and Afognak Island. He worked at Valdez Creek Mine Co. for the last 10 years. He was a dedicated truck driver at Valley Block and Concrete, a job he loved. At work &#8220Big Chris” was admired by all who knew him and was considered as one of the best.

Soper also enjoyed hiking, camping, shooting, hot rods and motorcycles.

Soper is survived by children Kimberly Bergey, Monte Soper and Carrie Krull; mother Billie Janotte; sister Charlene Raithause; brother Carl Soper; Constance Owen, the mother of his children; nephew Michael Raithause; sons-in-law Ron Bergey and Luke Krull; grandchildren Alexis, Christian, Catherine Bergey and Riley Soper; and half-brother Joey Janott.

Local arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

Whitney Murray

Whitney Allene Murray, 17, of Blackwell, Okla., and Alaska passed away Aug. 1, 2007. She was born Nov. 6, 1989, in Blackwell Oklahoma to Jason Murray and Rhonda Wood.

A funeral was held Aug. 6 in the Blackwell High School auditorium with the Reverend Steve Hamm officiating. Interment followed at the Washunga Cemetery in Newkirk. Arrangements were under the direction of Blackwell Funeral Home.

Whitney would have been a senior at Blackwell High School or Skyview High School in Soldotna this year. She sang with the Blackwell high school choir, was on the yearbook committee, the National Honor Society, helped at the Youth Center in Blackwell and was a part of Blackwell Leadership with the Chamber.

Murray is survived by her mother, Rhonda Wood Alley and stepfather Orrin of Blackwell; father Jason Murray and stepmother Heather of Blackwell; sister Kalli Mayse of Blackwell; stepsisters Tracy, Stacy and Kalee Herbert; brothers Britton Angle, Josh and Caleb Alley and Brice Murray, all of Blackwell, and Wyatt Friedburg of Arizona; great-grandmother Shirley Stephens of Blackwell; great-grandfather Dean Mooring of Alaska; great-grandparents, Joe and Delores Haden; grandmother Wanda Alley; grandparents, Glen and Becky of Alaska, Jim and Diana Hampton, Kerry and Linda Wood; aunts Jennifer Murray and Mariah Martin of Alaska; uncles Daniel Martin of Hawaii, Dustin and Mike Martin of Alaska; and numerous other family and cousins.

Murray was preceded in death by grandfathers Randy Murray and Wayne Alley; great-grandparents Rudy and Dee Murray, Charlie Stephens and Kenneth Jones.

Memorials may be made to the Whitney Murray Memorial Fund at BancFirst, 101 N. Main, P.O. Box 151, Blackwell, Okla., 74631 (580) 363-4141.

Susan Large

Susan Lin Large died Aug. 8, 2007, at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center due to natural causes. She was 60.

There will be a memorial service at 4 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Silver Fox Inn, located at Mile 50 on the Parks Highway.

Large was born Aug. 9, 1947, in Seattle, Wash., where she attended high school. She most recently resided in Big Lake, but also lived in Anchorage. She was a member of the Mormon church and loved all craft works, riding horses and all things about the Civil War.

She had a very big heart and would do anything for a neighbor. She would never ask for anything or put anyone out. She loved animals and life in general.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home.

TERRI JOURNA

Palmer resident Terri Lynn Journa, 50, died Aug. 9, at home of natural causes.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Alpine Inn, Mile 61 on the Glenn Highway in Sutton.

Journa was born Dec. 2, 1956, in Lynnwood, Calif. She became a resident of Alaska in 1958. She owned and operated the 49er diner in Palmer from 2001-2004, bartended at the Palmer Bar from 1999-2001, The Whaler Bar and Grill from 1996-1998, and JJ's Lounge from 1996-1997.

She worked for Municipal Light and Power in Anchorage from 1989-1999, commercial fished for salmon and king crab from 1983-1988, worked for IBEW in 2005 and retired at age 48.

She spent six years organizing The Valley Abate annual breast cancer spaghetti feed in Palmer.

She enjoyed motorcycle riding, fishing and hosting the best parties in Alaska for family and friends.

Journa worked on fishing boats from Ketchikan to Dutch Harbor, where she was a cook on crab boats. It was during this time that she truly came to love the sea and all its beauty.

Then in the early 1980s, she went into the IBEW apprentice program and became a cable splicer. She ultimately went to work in Anchorage at Municipal Light and Power.

Throughout her life, Journa bartended at many bars in the Muldoon area. She loved people and her family. She always went out of her way to help a friend in need. She put together many potluck dinners and fundraisers to help these friends.

Journa is survived by her husband, Thomas Journa; daughter Susan Timm; son William Timm; and granddaughter Tyla Jade Journa. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Tennison, in 1989 and her mother-in-law, Ann Stow Moffitt, in November 2006.

Arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

David Johnstone

David &#8220Fuzz” E. Johnstone passed away Aug. 10, 2007, at Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, Wash., from heart complications.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 30 at the New Life Assembly of God in Goldendale.

A second celebration will be held at 4 p.m., Sept. 13 at Lazy Mountain Bible Church, 16005 East Shawn Drive, in Palmer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that monetary contributions be made in the name of JoAnn Johnstone, in care of FEC, 1920 South Eklutna Street, Palmer, AK 99645.

Wassie Apokedak

Wassie Apokedak, 53, of Smyrna, Ga., and formerly of Wasilla, passed away Aug. 15, 2007.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 17 at East Cobb Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Ga., with the Rev. Rick Holmes officiating. Apokedak will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga.

A native of Alaska, Apokedak moved from Wasilla to Atlanta, Ga., two years ago. He was a commercial fisherman and was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served during the Vietnam War.

Apokedak is survived by his wife, Sally Apokedak of Smyrna; children Shane Apokedak and Nikki Apokedak of Smyrna; siblings Nick Apokedak, Peter Apokedak and Ray Apokedak of Levelock, Anne Wilson of Igiugig, Mary Gibson of Wasilla, Sophie Anelon of New Halen and Shirley Andrew of Levelock; he is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

West Cobb Funeral Home, Marietta, Ga., has been entrusted with the arrangements, 770-419-9234. Online guestbook at www.westcobbfuneralhome.com.