CATHERINE GAIR

Catherine, "Kitty" Gair died at her home in Wasilla on Sept. 13, 2002. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Wasilla at a later date. Her ashes will be spread at sea. Catherine Smulling Gair was born Nov. 4, 1912, to Robert and Mabel Fiero Smulling in Altoona, Penn. She graduated from Jefferson Nursing School in 1933 and worked as a community health nurse in Pennsylvania and in Kentucky where she rode a mule to make her rounds. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1943 with a bachelor of science degree in education. In 1963, she attended Boston University and received her master's degree in child psychiatric nursing.

Mrs. Gair came to Alaska in 1943 on a wartime permit to enter the territory. She worked at the Anchorage Health Center for three years. In 1946, the Territorial Department of Health started a new service, with a ship named MS Hygiene, the goal for which was to deliver health services to coastal villages of Alaska, with emphasis on detection of tuberculosis. She was the public health nurse assigned to this and served five years on the Hygiene. It was there she met and married Angus Gair, who was the chief engineer. She later co-authored a book, "Alaska's Search for a Killer," about their experiences on the ship.

In 1957, she became a school nurse in the Juneau school system, where, she said, she had found her niche, as she loved to work with children. During this time, she was also involved with organizing the Alaska Nurses' Association, serving in different capacities including the presidency from 1956 to 1960. Later she served on numerous other boards and commissions, both private and governmental.

Mrs. Gair is survived by her son Ken Gair of Wasilla; grandson Angus Gair of Palmer; nephew and his wife, Mike and Linda Clifford of Winter Park, Fla., and their son and daughter; and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Gair's name to Hospice of Mat-Su, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla, AK 99654, or to a charity of the donor's choice.