JEAN MARION RING

Anchorage resident Jean Marion Ring, 74, died July 22, 2005, at Providence Alaska Medical Center, of cancer.

Viewing was held from 5 p.m. until a celebration of life service at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 28, 2005 at First Baptist Church, 1100 West 10th Ave., Anchorage. Michael Dupree officiated. Daryl Vaughn, Charles Powell, Nathan Powell, Dustin Powell, Daniel Adrian, Fred Thoerner and Kyle Vaughn served as pallbearers.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Pioneers of Alaska Scholarship Fund at Women's Igloo #4, P.O. Box 101547 or flowers would be appreciated.

Mrs. Ring was to be cremated and a memorial plaque will be placed at the Pioneers of Alaska at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Ring was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Bandon, Ore., and received her master's degree in education from Southern Oregon College.

She came to Alaska in 1951 and taught in the Anchorage School District for 28 years, retiring from Turnagain Elementary School in 1982. She proved a homestead with her husband and commercial fished in upper Cook Inlet for more than 50 years. She raised three daughters and then raised three grandchildren after the loss of her oldest daughter.

Mrs. Ring was active in many organizations: ADK, PEO, Carta, Pioneers of Alaska and Toastmasters, and she taught 55 Alive through AARP.

Her family wrote, "Mom demonstrated amazing grace and courage, her love of life was surpassed only by her love for family and friends. She was a kind woman who never had a bad word to say of anyone. She was a shining example of unconditional love to all who knew her. We know her faith has led her to our Heavenly Father."

Mrs. Ring is survived by her husband, David, of Anchorage; daughters, Donna Powell of Yelm, Wash., and Bonnie Vaughn of Anchorage; grandchildren, Kimberly Ring of Atlanta, Robin Reinke of Anchorage, Nathan Powell of Yelm, Wash., Daniel Adrian of Anchorage, Dustin Powell of Spokane, Wash., Sandra Thoerner of Anchorage, Fred Thoerner of Anchorage, Kyle Vaughn of Anchorage, Jennifer Vaughn of Anchorage, Joshua Powell of Yelm and Athena Vaughn of San Leandro, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Donavon Powell, Haylee Powell and Matthew Reinke, and sister, Gloria Schaepe of Canyonville, Ore.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Thoerner, and her parents, John Rufus and Avo Celeste Truman.

Anchorage Funeral Home and Crematory handled arrangements.