Jean Marie Leader

Wasilla resident Jean Marie Leader, 86, died May 1, 2011, at Heidi’s Care Adult Assisted Living in Wasilla.

A celebration of life service for Jean is at 2 p.m., May 7 at Valley Funeral Home Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla, with Pastor Robert Hicks officiating. Burial is at 1:30 p.m., May 9 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage.

Jean was born June 17, 1924, in Grand Island, Neb., the daughter of Charles and Odessa Munyan. The family moved to Billings, Mont., and then to Shepherd, where she attended Shepherd schools and graduated from Shepherd High School. After graduation she attended Northern Montana College in Harve, Mont.

She married her high school sweetheart in September 1942 in Spokane, Wash., and moved to Ketchikan with her husband and two children in 1952. They moved to Anchorage in 1953, where she worked as an accountant for Yukon Radio, Jonas Bros. and Arctic Beauty supply in 1982. She and her husband, Harold, moved to the Mat-Su Valley in 1987.

Harold said, “Jean was a great lady and she will be loved and missed by her family.”

Jean loved to garden and bowl, along with her craftwork. She also enjoyed fishing and camping. She also volunteered at Bishop’s Attic in Anchorage for many years and later in Palmer. She was a member of the Anchorage Women’s Bowling Association, where she served as president for 12 years. She also served as secretary for the Alaska State Women’s Bowling Association for many years, where she traveled to attend many national women’s bowling tournaments and was inducted into the Anchorage Women’s Hall of Fame.

She was a lifetime member of the VFW and DAV auxiliaries, and was also a member of the Alaska Pioneers Igloo No. 11, where she served as president in 2003 when she and her husband were King and Queen Regents. She also was a member of the Rebekah’s and served as Noble Grand and district president for many years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Betty Seeley of Spokane, Wash.; and her brothers, Hugh and Charles Munyan.

Jean is survived by her husband of 68 years, Harold; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Dave Warner of Westfir, Ore.; and son and daughter-in-law, Gregory S. and Cally Leader of Wasilla. She is also survived by grandsons, Jerry and wife Suzanne, Gary and wife Cherry Whittle of Anchorage, Larry and Lonnie Whittle of Portland, Ore., and Justin Leader of Wasilla; and granddaughter, Jessica Jean McDonnell and husband Michael of Big Lake. Jean is also survived by 11 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 4406 Palmer, AK 99645.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home of Wasilla.