Benny ‘Jake’ Neves Sr.

Longtime Alaskan Benny “Jake” Neves Sr., 81, died peacefully Aug. 16, 2013, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

Memorial services are at 4 p.m., Aug. 23 at the Valley Funeral Home, 151 East Herning Ave. in Wasilla. A celebration of life is at 4 p.m., Aug. 24 at the American Legion Post 33, 21643 Old Glenn Hwy., in Peters Creek.

Jake was born Jan. 23, 1932, in Bell County, Texas. He left school in Salado, Texas after the eighth grade and shortly thereafter rode the rodeo circuit as a young teen. Jake first came to Alaska in 1956 and lived in various communities in Alaska for 35 years, including Fairbanks, Anchorage, Chugiak, Peters Creek, Eagle River and Wasilla. Jake worked as a cement finisher and a builder throughout Alaska, but primarily in the Anchorage and Wasilla areas.

Jake strongly identified with cowboy culture and was easily recognized by his 6-foot-2 height and a cowboy hat. He was gregarious and loved being around friends. Jake enjoyed life and unabashedly pursued fun across a variety of activities, all of which he embraced with obvious enthusiasm. As he once wrote he “enjoyed everything.” No shrinking violet, Jake was a vocal and expressive extrovert. He played the guitar and delighted in jam sessions playing with whoever was musically inclined, but especially with his longtime friends Dave Tanner, Manny Pederson and Delbert Newby. He was a rodeo rider, rodeo judge and promoter in Alaska, including Little Britches Rodeo. He also enjoyed fishing, raced snowmachines and rode motorcycles.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Edith and Grady Neves; and great-grandchild, Lucas Neves.

Surviving are his sons, Benny Jr., Steven, Robin, Derin and Jason; grandchildren, Steve, Rebecca, Jaycee, Elysha, Aslynne, Chris, Jessica, Calyssa and Chloe; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Wyatt James, Avery, Myca, Caden, Haila and Jesse; caregivers, Tiffany and Claire; and Caring Hand in Hand staff, Markeeta, Mitzi, Julie, Berta, Lilly, Melissa and Richard.

Anchorage Funeral Home handled arrangements. An obituary and guestbook are online at AlaskanFuneral.com.