DOYLE G. McELHANEY

Wasilla resident Doyle G. McElhaney, 69, died Tuesday, Jan. 28 after a long illness at Valley Hospital in Palmer. A wake will be held for Mr. McElhaney at Country Kitchen Restaurant in Wasilla on Monday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. All friends are invited to attend. Mr. McElhaney was born Feb. 6, 1933, in Marysville, Calif.

Mr. McElhaney moved to Alaska in 1948, residing first in Cordova then moving to Anchorage where he lived from 1974 to 1984. He moved to Wasilla in 1984, where he resided until his death.

He was also a boat builder, carpenter, trapper and he plowed snow for the city of Cordova. He worked with the government during the Korean conflict, before becoming a commercial fisherman and crabber. He retired from fishing and crabbing due to illness in 1997.

His special interests included woodworking, making things with his hands and working with diamond willow.

His family remembers, "He was always willing to help anyone. He was quiet and shy, always had a smile. He enjoyed going to the Country Kitchen every morning for coffee with the good ol' boys and solving the world's problems."

Mr. McElhaney is survived by his wife Lynn McElhaney of Wasilla; his children Danny, Doyleen, Gordon, Moana, John, Andrea and Jeff. He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; by his cousins Jerry Fritz and Gary Hamby; and by his niece Jeannie Ann Peterson.

Mr. McElhaney's ashes will be scattered in Prince William Sound at a later date.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.