Edith Arnold Morgan

Early Alaskan Edith Arnold Morgan, 89, died in Wasilla on Feb. 10, 2011, of natural causes.

Born Edith Hoop on May 11, 1921, in Ellensburg, Wash., she came to Nome with her family in 1932. In 1939, Edith was crowned Miss Nome and enjoyed the adventure of flying to Fairbanks with well-known bush pilot Noel Wein for the Territorial competition.

After graduation from high school, she married Wilbur Arnold. During the war years, Edith and Wilbur left Nome to live in Washington and Oregon. They returned to Nome in 1953, where they raised five children and provided care for her brother, Budd Hoop. She and Wilbur owned and operated Arctic Sanitary Service until Wilbur’s death in 1963. Edith was then appointed postmaster of the Nome Post Office and served until 1974.

Edith left Nome in 1974 to marry an old family friend, Frank Morgan. They enjoyed their retirement years in Anchorage, California and Colorado. It was during these years that Edith found the artist in herself. She handmade many beautiful quilts for her family and then set her heart on craft painting. She found joy in painting and sharing her artwork with family and friends. After Frank’s death in 1995, Edith eventually moved back to Alaska in 2001 to live with her daughter in Wasilla.

Her family writes, “Our mother worked hard to make the growing up years the best they could be. She was hardworking, affectionate and had a positive influence on our lives. Her pleasing personality made her a pleasure to be with. She had a smile that could cheer anyone. She always found time for school activities, Boy and Girl Scouts, camping, berry picking, fishing and all the other childhood activities five children can dream up. She was there for us.”

Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Emily Hoop; brother, Budd; husbands, Wilbur Arnold and Frank Morgan; and grandson Geoffrey Arnold.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Raymond (Betha) Arnold Palo Alto, Calif., Richard (Arlene) Arnold of Brighton, Colo., Alice (Gary) Smith of Wasilla, Ted (Betty) Arnold of Anchorage and Nancy (Paul) Denyer of Anchorage; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements