Charmienne “Char” Harker

Wasilla resident Charmienne “Char” Harker, 56, died Oct. 1, 2011, surrounded by her loved ones at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

Charmienne was born May 26, 1955, in Anchorage, the youngest of four children born to Jess S. and Marion J. Harker. She was raised on a 160-acre homestead on the Little Susitna River.

She attended Wasilla Elementary School and high school in Anchorage. She continued her education in 1988 by attending Careers Vocational Training School for blueprint reading and estimating.

She was employed as a secretary and accountant in the construction field and oil industry in Anchorage, Wasilla and the North Slope. She was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in May 2000.

She has two daughters she raised by herself. In 1984, she had a debilitating stroke, which left her paralyzed on her left side. Despite her disability, she continued to care for her two daughters.

In 2009, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and managed to live beyond the expected six months. She fought a courageous battle for those remaining years.

According to her family, she loved the woods, camping, riding motorcycles and snowmachines. She especially loved to go to Homer with her family every year. She believed in angels and enjoyed the ballet. She was fond of all animals, especially wolves. She had a large collection of wind chimes, angels and wolf pictures. She loved to cook and was considered the best.

Her dream was to live in a house in the woods, and that dream came true 10 years before she passed away. She was “mom” to many young people who needed a safe haven and a nourishing meal.

Many of her friends said Char was courageous, strong and generous to a fault. She will be sorely missed by many, her family said.

She was preceded in death by her bother, Keith Sheldon Harker.

Surviving are her daughters, Valorie Harker of Anchorage and Tazlina Harker of Palmer; parents, Jess and Janet Harker of Sequim, Wash.; sisters, Lorell Bonnet of Palmer and Lorraine Thibault of Wasilla; grandchildren, Shantelle, Paris, Brooklyn and Michael Keith; and numerous aunts and uncles in California.

Services for Char are pending at this time.

Arrangements for the family were by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Wasilla.