Arylis and Bealuh Scates

Arylis Wayne (Art) Scates, 83, and Bealuh Isabell (Boots) Thompson, 76, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, due to injuries sustained in a car accident.

Art and Boots were married on July 11, 1950, in Wellington, Kan. They moved to Alaska in 1968, from Everett, Wash., where Art owned and operated his own upholstering store, while Boots worked for the Teamsters on the North Slope.

They moved to the Point MacKenzie area full-time in 1988.

They were actively involved in shaping growth in the Point MacKenzie area. Art served as a Community Council president, on the Wasilla-Lakes Fire Service Area Board of Supervisors, as a Port Commission member, and on the Goose Creek Correctional Center Citizens Advisory Committee, along with numerous other community positions.

Art was born Jan. 15, 1928, in Wellington, Kan., to Charles and Lucy (Jones) Scates. He was one of 10 children. Boots was born on April 7, 1934, in Rome, Kan., to Jacob and Ollie (Palmer) Thompson. She was one of 19 children.

Together, they enjoyed playing with their great grandchildren and sitting on their deck watching the bountiful wildlife. Art loved to dabble in politics, hunt, fish and bake, but his passion was his garden. Boots enjoyed talking to her friends and family, traveling, playing bingo and Pogo. While vacationing in Washington, she enjoyed her trips to the horse races.

Survivors include son, Richard and his wife Pamela of Wasilla; daughter, Wanda and her husband Charles of Everett, Wash.; daughter, Janice of Boise, Idaho; son, James and his wife Jennie of Big Lake; grandchildren, Paula, Tara, Arylis, Kevin, Lori, Charles, Shawn, Michael and Misty; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; along with many more family and friends.

A celebration of life will be at Art and Boots’ home, Mile 3.1 Point MacKenzie Road, at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14.

In lieu of flowers, send memorials to Richard Scates in care of Art and Boots Scates, P.O. Box 873446 Wasilla, AK 99687.

They will be greatly missed by their family, friends and community.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Cremation Society of Alaska. A guestbook is online at alaskacremation.com.