ANITA FAYE MAYS

Willow resident Anita Faye Mays, 39, died after an auto accident near Trapper Creek Oct. 20, 2003.

A memorial service will be held at Big Lake Baptist Church Monday at noon. Pastor Jerry Pinkerton will officiate. A celebration of her life and luncheon will be held after the service.

Ms. Mays was born Sept. 14, 1964, in Atwood, Kan., to Dean and Marita Mays. She was the youngest of 10 children.

She graduated high school in Leota, Kan.

She moved to Alaska in 1990 and resided in the Valley.

Ms. Mays worked as a hostess, bartender and bookkeeper for the Big Su Lodge in Talkeetna.

She loved nature and her hobbies included dog mushing, making crafts, collecting plants, hunting, fishing, praising God, singing and cooking. Her dreams were to someday move home to Kansas and live out her days with her family.

Her family wrote, "She was a great and very loving woman. She touched everyone she met and could put a smile on anyone's face."

Ms. Mays was preceded in death by her brother Darryl Mays.

She is survived by her sons Kenneth William Clark III, Murphy Rankin, James "Jo" Owen Rankin, and Paul Dwayne Rankin; daughter Elizabeth LeeAnn Clark and granddaughter Sierra Sky Clark; parents Dean and Marita Mays of Leota, Kan.; brothers Dick Mays, Roland Mays, Jon Mays, Pat Mays, and Rod Mays; sisters Barbara June Mckay, Doris Langdon and Rose Atchley; 35 nephews and nieces, 31 great nephews and nieces and five great-great nephews and nieces.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.