CASSIE M. WILLIAMS

Wasilla resident Cassie Marie Williams, 11, died Jan. 8, 2005, from injuries sustained in an auto accident on the Sterling Highway, north of Cooper Landing.

A visitation took place at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Wasilla Christian Church, off Knik-Goose Bay Road. A funeral service followed at 6 p.m., with Youth Pastor Jason Winters officiating. Additional services were held in Soldotna on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the Soldotna Elks Lodge. She will be laid to rest at Buckner Cemetery in Buckner, Mo.

Cassie was born Nov. 1, 1993, in Warrensburg, Mo. She moved with her family to Nikiski in July 2002 and moved to Wasilla in November, where she attended the fifth grade at Goose Bay Elementary School. She was a member of the Alaska Young Marines, a former member of the Kenai Christian Church and a member of Wasilla Christian Church at the time of her death.

Her family wrote, "Cassie loved caring for animals and playing with her friends. She was dearly loved by her family and will be greatly missed."

She is survived by her father, Charles R. Williams, and stepmother, Retha R. Williams of Wasilla; mother, Karen M. Owens, and stepfather, Pat Owens, of Belton, Mo.; brothers, Jonathan Owens, Adam Williams, Anthony Folkes and Chris Targonsky; sister, Stacey Folkes; paternal grandparents, Suzanne and Michael Williams; maternal grandparents, Sandy and Richard Holden and an uncle, Tony Holden.

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