Cecil Montean Hobbs

Longtime Alaska resident Cecil Montean Hobbs, 90, died March 3, 2013.

Born in Conway, Ark., on Nov. 12, 1922, Montean, the oldest of eight children born to Bill and Edna Burgess, had to leave school in the eighth grade to work in the cotton fields, but went on to receive her GED after her children were grown.

She met the love of her life, Don Hobbs, while working in his sister’s peanut factory in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1940. They married and had the first of their six children, Gordon. Montean followed Don to Fairbanks in the summer of 1942. The following years had them also living in California, Oregon, Oklahoma, then back to Fairbanks, on to Kenai, moving to Anchorage in 1963.

Montean lived in Anchorage until moving to Wasilla in 2001 to live with her youngest daughter, Rebecca, where she stayed for several years. Her last six years were spent at the Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer, where she received excellent care from dedicated staff.

Montean was a great friend to many people. She was a church greeter for years with the World Wide Church of God. She always had a handshake and a smile for everyone coming through the door. Montean loved to drive and often provided rides to her friends without cars.

Montean was a valued employee of the Municipality of Anchorage for several years where she worked as a mail courier. Again, she made friends wherever she went, which was many offices throughout the city.

Her love of Jesus Christ and strong faith in God kept her going through many adversities, including a tornado in Oklahoma that literally blew away her house, the 1964 earthquake in Anchorage that destroyed the contents of her and Don’s electrical supply shop, and an arsonist fire that left her badly burned. In spite of these setbacks, Montean was an optimistic, happy lady and a joy to all who knew her. She lived her life with grace and honor.

She is survived by her oldest daughter, Donna Hamilton, and son, Larry Hobbs both of San Antonio, Texas; son, Stephen Hobbs of Portland, Ore.; and daughter, Rebecca Custer of Wasilla. She also leaves behind brothers, Bob, Jimmy, John and Paul Burgess; along with many grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Montean will be greatly missed and forever remembered. To contact the family, write Rebecca Custer at P.O. Box 870644, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Arrangements were made by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Wasilla.