Andy Anderson

Andy Elvin Anderson was born on July 21,1981, in Phoenix, Ariz. He left us February 16, 2007, at Kingman Regional Hospital, in Kingman, Arizona.

Andy started his school years in Prescott, Ariz., moving to Kingman in his third-grade year. Throughout his younger years he would visit Alaska, and moved permanently during his high school years, graduating in 1999 from Colony High.

After high school, he returned to Kingman, where he trained and became an electrician working in Arizona and California. He was such a great handyman, working with wood, laying tile, he had the ability to fix almost

anything.

One of Andy's passions was to hunt with his dad. Spotting game was his specialty.

He treasured the outdoors, always wanting to be camping, hiking or fishing. He could snag those Alaska salmon better than most.

He was also athletic - football, baseball, basketball and gymnastics. Snowboarding became another love. He was a natural due to his gymnastics background. He would spend hours trudging in deep snow to the top of a mountain, for a five-minute ride to the

bottom.

He is survived by his wife, Tia Hummel, son Andy Anderson Jr., daughter Kyla Anderson, mother Donna Anderson, all of Kingman, his father Edward and stepmother Kathy Anderson and stepbrothers Ty and Clint Thornhill, all of Palmer, sister Christian and brother-in-law Curt Witte, brother Brett Anderson, sister Danae Anderson, grandmother Roberta Watson, all of Kingman, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Andy was a loving son, brother, husband and dad. He had a heart of gold. He could make you laugh no matter what kind of mood you were in. He will be missed greatly.

Roger Willard Swanson

Palmer resident Roger Willard Swanson, 61, died March 24, 2007, at home of complications from COPD. A memorial service was held March 29 at Valley Harvest Church in Palmer. Pastor Joe Hand officiated.

Mr. Swanson's ashes will be buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, Wash.

Mr. Swanson was born March 30, 1945, in Tacoma, Wash. He attended Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Wash.

He came to Alaska in 1982, lived in Fairbanks from 1982 to 1987, also had lived in Kotzebue, and resided in Palmer at the time of his death. He worked for Foss Tug in the 1960s, and in construction in Alaska and Washington in the 1970s. He then returned to the maritime field as a cook/deckhand for Crowley Marine Services from 1987 to 1999, and then for Yutana Barge Lines for one year, until he retired on disability.

He was a member of Valley Harvest Church, was a hospice volunteer, and enjoyed fishing, gardening and reading. His family said: &#8220Roger was a friend of Bill W's and enjoyed the fellowship of their friends. He had a deep love for the Lord and enjoyed reading his Bible. One of his good memories was taking his grandchildren to church and also sharing with them his love of cooking. He spent many summers fishing in Prince William Sound and had many happy memories of fishing with family and friends.”

He is survived by his wife, Diane Swanson of Palmer; mother, Helen Swanson of Tacoma, Wash.; son, Roger of Tennessee; stepsons and their wives, Erik and Susan Minturn of Palmer, and Jonathan and Adene Minturn of Willow; stepdaughters and husband, Erin and Rick Everett of Lake Tapps, Wash., and Ketura Behrends of Puyallup, Wash.; sister and her husband, Arlene and Louie McBride of Tacoma, Wash.; step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends in Alaska and Washington. He was preceded in death by his father, Willard Swanson.

Donations may be sent to Mat-Su Regional Homecare and Hospice or Valley Harvest Church. Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.

Velna Ocea (White) Byrd

Velna Ocea (White) Byrd, 91, died of natural causes at &#8220Our House” Assisted Living Home in Wasilla on March 23, 2007.

Velna was born September 17, 1915, in Friend, Ore. She has spent the last three and a half years in Wasilla to be near her son, Steve Byrd, and family. She was a high school teacher for 30 years in her beloved state of Oregon, finishing her career at David Douglas High School in Portland in 1975.

Velna was known for her athletic prowess and was Northwest badminton champion while at Oregon State College in the 1930s, where she was known as Whizzer White. She was also an outstanding tennis player, golfer and bowler, and was a coach in all of these sports.

She was recruited to be an Olympic swimmer, but refused to give up the variety of activities she loved to focus on only one. She was a fiercely independent woman who lived completely on her own for 15 years after her husband died.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Howard Byrd, her son, Stanley, and her infant daughter, Karen Ann. She is survived by her son, Steve Byrd, his wife KerryAnn, her grandchildren, Geoff, Katie, Adam and Shannon, and Geoff's mother, Sherri Byrd.

Additionally, there are many extended family members of Alvin Byrd from his roots in Eastern Oregon, along with her sister's sons Ron and Mike Vivion. photo

Janet Girard

Janet Girard died at 12:08 Sunday morning March 25, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center after an almost nine-month battle with cancer. She had been preparing for a major part in a Valley Performing Arts production when she was diagnosed unexpectedly with acute leukemia.

Janet Nee Morton was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1933. Her parents moved to California in 1943, where she got her schooling and met her husband, physicist Frank Girard. She was a full-time mom to her five children, and they spent some years overseas, where she did some professional acting.

She was a full member of the Alaska Watercolor Society and an avid gardener, was on the board of directors for Valley Performing Arts for eights years and performed in many plays. Her favorite roles were the psychiatrist in &#8220Jake's Women,” Mrs. Malaprop in &#8220The Rivals” and Eisee in &#8220Catsplay” for which she won the &#8220Best Actress of the Year” award in 2003. She was last seen in &#8220The Crucible” as Rebekka. She also appeared in &#8220Florida” at Cyrano's Playhouse in Anchorage and received great reviews. She followed that up by doing the part in a film of the same name.

She leaves her husband of almost 50 years, Frank Girard; her daughters, Kathlene, Nancy Cockcroft and husband Richard of Wasilla and their children Angela, Urshala and Louise, and great-grandchildren Brondon, Makayla and Roco. She also leaves daughter Jeanine Miller and fiancé Jay of Anchorage and her children, Dylan and Baylin, son, Scott Girard and wife, Kim; engineer and NASA representative for Alaska, and children Makenna and Torin; son, Douglas Girard, noted Alaska artist, and his children, Saxon and Garrick.

The family said &#8220She was a great wife, mother, friend and an inspiration to many. She was very loving, energetic, passionate, optimistic, determined and was a seeker of knowledge and truth. She will be missed dearly.”

A celebration of her life will be held at the United Protestant Church in Palmer (palmerlogchurch.org) on Sunday, March 31, at 2 p.m. Contact Douglas at 745-3226. Her request was that instead of flowers that a donation should be made to leukemia research (www.leukemia-research.org)

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Karlen George Grinnell

Karlen George Grinnell, 72, died of cancer March 27, 2007, at his home in Wasilla.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 31, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the AMVETS Post #9 in Wasilla. His ashes will be scattered on the Denali Highway and Montague Island at a later date.

Karlen was born March 24, 1935, in Conneaut Lake, Pa. He served in the Army from January 21, 1958, to February 5, 1960.

He started his Alaska residency in 1969, living in Juneau. He moved to Anchorage in 1970 and lived there until he moved to Wasilla in 1977, where he stayed until the present.

Karlen worked civil service for the federal government at the 21st Transportation Squadron on Elmendorf Air Force Base from 1971 until he retired in 1997. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

His family wrote; &#8220A loving partner who was always ready to tell a story or a joke. Everyone loved him and he loved his family and friends. He enjoyed life to the fullest.”

Memorial donations can be made to: American Cancer Society, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane #204, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

He is survived by his partner/companion, Nancy Confer; children, Ward Grinnell of Wasilla; Kimberly Grinnell of Lawrence, Kan.; stepchildren Tonia Gibson of Palmer, Billy Ray of Northeast, Pa., John Ray of Bastrop, Texas, and Linda Lobenthal of Sevierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Terry Cunning Jr. of Lawrence, Kan., Rachel Cunning of Lawrence, Kan., and Sarah Cunning of Goldsboro, N.C.; and 10 step-grandchildren.

Local arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer

Mortuary.