Gloria Jean Kenyon

Big Lake resident Gloria Jean Kenyon, 67, died June 24, 2011, at Providence Alaska Medical Center surrounded by her family.

Memorial services in honor of Gloria are at 2 p.m., Friday, July 15 at Valley Funeral Home Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla, with Pastor John Garvin officiating.

A celebration of life follows at 4 p.m. at the Kenyon family home.

Gloria was born June 16, 1944, in Decorah, Iowa, to Paul and Alice (Smith) Kunkat.

Gloria was confirmed at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony, Minn., and graduated from Harmony High School. In 1962, she married Richard Kenyon, her high school sweetheart. In 1975, she moved with her husband and sons to Sitka, followed by relocation to the Anchorage area, eventually settling in Big Lake, where she was the postmaster for 16 years.

The family wrote, “She enjoyed many outdoor activities with her children and grandchildren, including hunting and fishing. She also enjoyed playing softball, cooking, gardening, needlework and traveling. She had a beautiful personality and a wonderful sense of humor.”

She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Richard; sons, Steven, Douglas and daughter-in-law Barbara, and David; granddaughters, Lisa, Tabitha and Amber; and great-granddaughter, Madalyn. She is also survived by sisters, Sylbert and Pauline; brothers-in-law, Gerald, Roger, Neil and Mike; sisters-in-law, Kathy and Karen; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Paul and Alice Kunkat.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.