GLORIA A. ARRINGTON

Palmer resident Elizabeth “Gloria” Ann Hill Arrington, 70, died on July 1, 2010, at Alaska Regional Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at the Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla on Saturday at 1 p.m. The family invites friends to join them in remembering Gloria and all the people she touched and loved.

Gloria was born Dec. 30, 1939, in Ashville, N.C., and married Rudolph “Mack” Arrington on Sept. 15, 1956. They moved to Alaska in 1962, where they raised six children: Rudolph Arrington Jr., Connie Millard (deceased), Ralph Arrington, Trena Elliott, Ravi Arrington and Matrika Arrington.

Gloria stayed home and raised their children most of the time. She helped her husband run Mack’s Knife Store in Eagle River and also helped her husband run Eagle River Refuse until they started another family raising Ravi and Matrika.

Mack always let everyone know Gloria was No. 1. Gloria loved flowers, art and collecting beautiful things. She raised, bred and showed Pekingese dogs for many years. Most of all she loved children, babies and animals. Her husband and children were her life. Gloria had a major stroke 11 years ago and Mack cared for her while she lived the rest of her life happy and comfortable in their home. At the time of her death she was surrounded by her loved ones. Gloria is preceded in death by her father, Charles Hill; mother, Alma Hill; sister, Irma Freeman; and daughter, Connie Millard.

Gloria is survived by her husband; brother, Burton Hill; sons, Rudy, Ralph and Ravi; daughters, Trena and Matrika; grandchildren Nicolette Martin, Brandy Arrington, Christopher Elliott, Jennifer Elliott and Tabitha Arrington; and great-grandchildren Cameron, Devon, Kelsey, Madison and Nakya.

She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association of Mat-Su, P.O. Box 4406, Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, Wasilla, akheritage.com.