August 25, 2006

ALPHONSE BALCHEN

Big Lake resident Al Balchen, 78, died Aug. 12, 2006, in Anchorage.

He was a three-year survivor of colon and brain cancer.

A celebration of life will be in Big Lake at noon, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, at Our Lady of the Lake, followed by lunch at 1 p.m. at the Hanger Lounge. Burial will be in a family plot in Hillside Cemetery in Lindhurst, New Jersey.

He was born Sept. 4, 1927, in New York City. He was a World War II veteran, serving honorably from 1946 to 1948 in the U.S. Army.

He loved football and played wide defense for four years on a full scholarship at Lafayette College in Easton, Penn. In 1952, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Lafayette.

He began working for Ingersol-Rand in 1952. In June 1968, he moved to Alaska and continued to work for Ingersol-Rand until 1970, when he began working for Enstar. He owned Balchen Real Estate, also working as a broker, from 1974 until his retirement in 1996. He spent his winters in Stuart, Fla., and summers in Alaska, working as a vendor at Saturday market since his retirement.

He was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, was a Delta Upsilon Fraternity brother, and was a charter member of the Petroleum Club of Anchorage. He won many golf awards for all his play in state ams, Mayors Cup, Builders and PCA tournaments, and was proud of his 10 handicap.

He was a good fisherman and never came home empty-handed. His boat, the A.B. Seas, spent many years in Whittier and Prince William Sound.

His family wrote, &#8220Lynn, his wife of 28 years, enjoyed a close and loving relationship, which served them well in later years. A man of great words, he could run through the New York Times Crossword Puzzle in a matter of minutes, but his best moments were gazing out the window at Denali and the Alaskan Range.”

Survivors include his spouse, Lynn of Big Lake; son, Bryce Balchen of Eugene, Ore.; daughters, Laurie Balchen and Debra Carrick of Anchorage; brother, Arthur of Ojai, Calif.; granddaughter, Sonia of Anchorage; grandsons, James, Lucas, Scott, John and Josh; great-granddaughters, Angela and India; great-grandson, Wyatt; sister-in-law, Doreen and her family of Golden, Col.; nieces and nephews in Colorado and California; special friends, Katy and Tony Boneta of Eagle River; and special pal, Baby, the &#8220sweetest Chihuahua west of the Pecos.”

He was preceded in death by daughter, Stephanie, and his parents.

Arrangements were made with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.Will try to send a better

ROY JAMES EVANS SR.

Roy James Evans Sr. died Aug. 20, 2006, at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage of complications from stroke and seizures.

There was a service in Anchorage Thursday. A service in Fairbanks is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, from noon to 1 p.m. at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. A military 21-gun salute will be at Rampart Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, at 1 p.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Scott Fisher. Pallbearers will be K. C. Pitka, Pete Evans, Paul Evans, Frank Evans, Don Evans, John Lillie, and Greg Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Lester Erhart, Francis Williams, Michael Kellex, Herman Tanape, Art Joseph, Donald Williams, Rick McMullen, Henry Wiehl, Leroy Evans, Al Woods, Jesse Evans, Jeffeson Huntsman, Kadeon Evans, Kurtis Evans, Jacob Evans, and Gabriel Evans. An Anchorage service will be announced later.

He was born April 7, 1934, in Rampart. He attended Mt. Edgecumbe High School from 1948-1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1956-1958.

He was a lifelong Alaska resident. He lived in Rampart, Fairbanks, Anchorage, English Bay, Seldovia, Clear and Port Lions.

He worked for Amchitka in 1969, as a commercial fisherman and a Brooks Range hunting guide, for the Alaska Railroad in 1954, as a Bureau of Land Management firefighter, a truck driver, trapper and carpenter, and for VECO in 1989. He retired from self-employment in 1990.

He volunteered thousands of hours helping friends, family and strangers. He was a jack-of-all-trades, and he rescued people from a plane crash.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, reading and helping anyone.

His family wrote, &#8220Roy, my dad, was known best for his sense of humor and generosity. He remained active in his subsistence lifestyle and culture until the end. He had a great love for everyone - family, friends and even strangers - never turning anyone away. He brought many gifts, leaving behind a legacy that will live forever.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Elaine Evans; brothers, James Roy, Richard, Thomas and Jesse; and sisters, Minnie, Lulu, Ann and Ella.

He is survived by his companion, Lily Killbear and her children of Anchorage; sisters, Ethel and husband Richard Smith, Pauline Evans and Elaine Evans of Fairbanks; children, Roy Evans, Kathy Evans, Tom Evans, Ann Evans, Vincent Evans, Jeff Evans and Priscilla Evans, all of English Bay, and Anita Evans of Anchorage; 34 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations can be made c/o Anita Evans, P.O. Box 190783, Anchorage, AK 99519.

Arrangements are with Witzleben Family Funeral Home.

CLAUDETTE CAY TAYLOR

Claudette Cay Taylor, 73, died Aug. 19, 2006, of natural causes at her home in Palmer.

A service will be 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, at the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer. Officiating will be Leisa Carric.

She was born on Sept. 27, 1932, in Algonac, Mich., to Sheldon and Hilda Cartwright. After high school graduation, she attended the University of Michigan for a year before transferring to Mercy School of Nursing, where she completed her registered nursing degree

in 1954.

She married Robert Taylor that year and they spent 52 years together, working and traveling throughout the world. She enjoyed traveling and made many friends in the Far East and Europe. She lived in Taipei, Taiwan, for three years and her son, Kent, was born there

in 1959.

The family moved to Arizona for a year, and then to Sembach, Germany, in 1962. While in Germany, she became and avid hunter and her second son, Brent, was born there in 1964. She returned to the United States in 1966 to Texas, where her daughter, Tanya, was born. She moved from Texas to Michigan, and traveled to her final home in Alaska in 1973.

When her youngest child entered junior high school, she returned to work for the Census Bureau and traveled extensively in western Alaska.

She worked as the supervisory nurse at Medical Park Family Group until retiring in 1998. She moved to Palmer in 2001.

She loved spending time with her family, and holidays always were a big celebration. Grandchildren soon learned that Grandma's door always was open and the cookie jar always was full.

She had a soft spot for animals and spoiled family pets

shamelessly.

In retirement, she enjoyed soaking up sun on the beaches in Kauai and growing flowers in her garden.

She volunteered time at local museums and the Alaska Botanical Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the donor's charity of choice.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert H. Taylor; sons and daughters-in-law, Kent and Lisa Taylor of Anchorage, and Brent and Kim Taylor of Palmer; daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Simon Newall of Anchorage; and five grandchildren.

Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

LARRY MERRIDITH KENNEDY

Larry Merridith Kennedy, 61, died Aug. 20, 2006, at his home in Palmer. A service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at Fort Richardson. The Rev. Patrick Fletcher will officiate at the service.

He was born June 10, 1945, in Rapid City, S.D. He was in the U.S. Navy.

In 1980, he moved to Alaska and has been a resident in Wasilla ever since.

He is survived by his son, Lon Kennedy of Anchorage; daughter, Nichole Kennedy of Anchorage; granddaughter, Miranda Kennedy of Anchorage; brother, Ronald Kennedy of Fort Peck, Montana; brother, Wayne Kennedy of Montana; and sister, Judy and Terry Davis of Montana.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elma and Lyle Kennedy.

The family would like flowers at the service.

Arrangements were with

Valley Funeral Home and

Crematory.

CARL ZABORAC

Longtime Palmer resident Carl Zaborac, 69, died Aug. 19, 2006, at his home in Palmer.

He was born July 21, 1937, in Bemidji, Minn., to Stanley and Agnes (Durand) Zaborac.

His family moved to Alaska and settled in Palmer in 1948. He graduated from Palmer High School and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

He worked with the

Mat-Su School District until retirement.

He was a member of the Palmer Elks Lodge, Palmer Moose Lodge and Pioneers of Alaska for many years. He was an avid stamp collector.

Although he was a very private person, Carl cared very much for his family and humanity.

His brother Stanley, nephew David and niece Hilary preceded Carl in death.

His sister, Shirley and her husband Floyd Ritter; sister, Pat Stone; sister-in-law, Nell Zaborac; 12 nieces and nephews, and 15 great-nieces and nephews survive him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association.

A remembrance gathering will be announced at a later date.

Burial will be at Pioneer Cemetery.

Kehl's Forest Lawn and Palmer mortuaries made the arrangements.