Carolyn Lee Foster

Wasilla resident Carolyn Lee “Carol” Foster, 74, died April 19 of natural causes at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Carol was born March 3, 1935, in Portland, Ore., to Harry and Marcella Feller. She graduated from Immaculata Academy in Portland. As a teen, Carol participated in roller figure-skating competitions. In June 1975 she moved to Alaska to be with the man she loved most, James Foster. They married in July. She loved Alaska and all its wonders. Carol worked for many years as a cashier at D&A Supermarket in Wasilla before taking a position in sales with the Iditarod Trail Committee, where she worked for more than a decade before retiring in 2000. Carol’s greatest pride was that all four of her children moved to Alaska to be with her and make lives of their own. She took special pride in her eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Besides her family, Carol loved her pets. Through the years she nurtured many dogs and cats through long lives of their own. Carol also loved camping in Alaska, gardening and, when she was younger, loved wrapping her arms around her husband as she rode on the back of his motorcycle. Carol lived her life helping others, even taking in a few strays over the years, just adding to the family of people who grew up loving her. Carol was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Roger Feller; and grandson, Nicholas Wright. She was survived by her husband, James; her favorite pet, Murphy; daughters, Janet Burmeister and husband Richard, Marci Skibo; sons, Patrick Foster and companion Saundra Greenwald, and Michael Foster and wife Karen; grandchildren, Jason, Corey, Becki, Jacob, James, Krystal, Nathan, Matt and Keegan, great-grandchild, Hallie, sister Elaine Garrow and brother Doug Feller.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations in Carol’s honor to the Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue, PO Box 876888, Wasilla, AK 99687; 907-745-7030.