Homer Lee Mayo

Homer Lee “Peanuts” Mayo, 81, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, at his home from bone cancer.

Homer was born in Bonne Terre, Mo., on Aug. 9, 1929, to parents Homer Albert Mayo and Mary Alice (Williams). He graduated high school in 1947. Homer found employment in a shoe factory until moving with his family to Casper, WY.

He was drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War. He served as a courier and NCO, receiving the Korean Service Medal and three Bronze stars. Discharged, he returned to Wyoming where he met Vivian Starr (Hill). The couple married in 1955.

In 1959, Homer, his wife, four children, Vivian’s brother, and family left Wyoming to homestead near Wasilla. He worked for the state at Alcantra Youth Camp and attended night classes at the University of Anchorage Community College for an associate’s degree in behavioral sciences. As a state probation officer in Kodiak, Homer found his love of fishing and woodworking, avocations that stayed with him through life.

Homer was a contest-winner the author of the jingle: “Everything’s better with Bluebonnet on it.”

Just one amusing side note to this hard-working and God-fearing “Sourdough” and ‘59er who was known and loved by many.

He retired early from the state and moved to the Lower 48. In Carlsbad, NM, Homer worked at the Nuclear Waste Repository where he became a certified industrial locksmith. In 1990, Homer moved back to Anchorage. Then retiring for good, he returned to his homestead in the Meadow Lakes vicinity.

Homer was a member and former board member of Hilltop Assembly of God in Houston and a member of Gideon’s International. He remained active in his hobby of woodworking. He is remembered by his wife of 55 years, Vivian; children Tom Starr, “Bud” Starr / wife Nancy (Stanton), Julie Starr all of Wasilla, and Georgia Spirock / husband Cliff A. of Corrales NM; siblings Margie Gilbert of Littleton, Colo., Jean Binks (Mrs. Al Binks) of Denver, Colo., Betsy Newton of Athens, Texas and brother Linn of Casa Grande, Ariz.; sister-in-law Thalia of Wasilla, brothers-in-law Tom and Clarence Hill of Arizona; grandchildren Lesa Thomas, Kirstie Starr-Watson, Christopher Starr, Greg Giauque of Alaska, Cliff F. Spirock and Deanna Spirock of N.M.; and six great-grandchildren. Homer’s death was preceded by brothers James Edward and Floyd Mayo.

A Celebration of Life service is at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct, 16, 2010, at the Hilltop Assembly of God Church in Houston, Parks Highway Milepost 59.7, with an interment at 3 p.m. at the Wasilla Cemetery, Main Street at Fishhook Road. Pastors officiating will be the Revs. Paul Riley and Kevin Shumway. A public viewing at the church is at 12:30 p.m.

Contributions may be made to Gideon’s International, 207 W. Stewart Ave, Puyallup WA, 98371-4393.