Janice “Jan” Rule Haynes

Palmer resident Janice "Jan" Rule Haynes, 81, died Dec. 25, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. A celebration of life was Dec. 28 at the family farm.

Jan was born in Ashland, Ohio, and moved to Perrysville, Ohio, where she graduated from Perrysville High School. Jan was employed by the Ohio State College of Dentistry as a histology technician in dental research from 1964-78.

Jan longed to travel, and in 1977 moved to Nome to join adventurous relatives from Ohio. She worked for Alaska General Contactors as a bull cook, then became a corrections officer for the Nome facility until 1984.

In 1981, she married Fred Haynes, a colonel with the Alaska National Guard, and moved out of town to their cabin on the Nome River. Being a true Alaskan, she hauled water from the river by sled, read by propane lights and traveled back and forth to Nome on snowmachine through the winter months when the roads were drifted in.

In 1986, Col. Haynes was transferred from Nome to Anchorage, and they moved to Palmer to be closer to her daughter's young family. Following Fred's retirement in 1999 they moved to Hawaii. In 2001, they purchased a large motor home and spent four very happy years traveling the Lower 48 visiting and sharing her enthusiasm for life with friends, family and the hundreds of people she met along the way.

Between trips, Jan and Fred returned to their beloved cabin on the Nome River where they quietly enjoyed reading, organizing family photographs and just being together.

Surviving is daughter, Tammy Moser of Palmer; daughter-in-law, Teresa Cleveland of Palmer; grandchildren, Aaron Rule and Rachael Tyree of Palmer, Mariah Moser of Ashland, Ore., and Molly and Daisy Moser of Palmer; and brother, James Carr of Perrysville, Ohio.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Fred Haynes; son, Jim Rule; and sister, Joyce Carr.

"Jan never knew a stranger, and her genuine loving spirit was felt by all," her family wrote. There will be a second celebration of life this summer in Nome, date to be announced.