BRYAN KENT ELEY

Willow resident, Mr. Bryan Kent Eley, 46, died at home of Glioblastoma brain cancer on Aug. 23, 2003.

A memorial service will be held at Willow United Methodist Church, Mile 67.5 Parks Highway, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Mr. Eley was born Nov. 30, 1956, in Cadillac, Mich.

He became a resident of Alaska in 1962. He had lived in Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla and Willow.

Mr. Eley worked in the construction business for Walsh & Co. Inc. in Adak in 1975, Construction & Rigging in Anchorage from 1980 to 1986, he was president of Interstate Battery of Alaska from 1987 to 1995, and worked for Mark Merrill Construction in Willow from 2001 to 2002.

He was a member of Anchor Park United Methodist and Willow United Methodist Church.

He served his community constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity in Anchorage.

Mr. Eley's hobbies included woodworking and constructing hope chests, log tissue boxes, bird feeders, birdhouses and special millwork for his home.

His family said, "Bryan's life was full, but all too brief. He accomplished most of the things he set out to do, however there wasn't enough time in the day for his love of drum playing, the hunting he'd planned in his homemade moose buggy, fishing or woodworking projects, but there was always time for helping others or his church whenever the need arose. He looked forward to life's daily challenges with great courage. He had many good friends and good times and will truly be missed by his loving family and by everyone whose life he touched."

Mr. Eley is survived by his parents Gary and Verna "Rusty" Eley of Willow; sons, Dustin and Derek Eley of Palmer; brother and sister-in-law Joey and Rena Eley of Paradise, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Tracie and K.B. Tompkins of Wasilla; nieces Kayla Eley of Paradise, Calif., and Kelly Michaels and husband Jassen of Wasilla; nephews Kacey and Tyrell Tompkins of Wasilla, Christopher and Ryan Eley of Paradise, Calif.; grandmothers, Mildred Marcus of Orange, Calif., and Mildred Byers of Tustin, Mich.; and aunts, uncles and cousins in Michigan, California and New Mexico.

Memorial donations may be made to Willow United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 182, Willow AK 99688, or to Hospice of Mat-Su, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla AK 99654.

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