Joan L. Swavely

Joan L. Swavely, 77, died July 27 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. She was born on Jan. 22, 1932 in Kinsley, Kansas, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Gray. Joan moved to Alaska in 1962 and lived in Eagle River until 1988. After living in Colorado for nearly 20 years, she retired in Wasilla in 2008.

She was active in the VFW ladies Auxiliary, and she served as state president in 1980-1981. Joan was involved is all of the various VFW events. Joan, a devoted wife and mother, worked part time while she raised her family.

She worked as a telephone operator from 1969 until 1971 and then at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute as a receptionist from 1971 until 1973. Then, Joan worked as a receptionist for the travel company from 1990 until 1997. She was most proud of her work with the Naturita Library in Colorado from 1997 until her retirement in 2007.

Joan was always looking for ways to help the less fortunate and she felt she was able to do that as a librarian.

Joan enjoyed crafting, she was an exceptional seamstress, she loved to design and make things, teaching children crafts, she loved to travel, baseball and she was a great artist.

Joan is survived by her husband, Ronald Swavely of Wasilla; son, Lenard LeRoy of Wasilla; daughter Theresa Smith of Grand Junction, Colo.; son, Thom Swavely of Palmer; son, Larry Swavely of Peters Creek; son, Darcy Swavely of Seattle; sister, Alice of Bellingham; sister, Nancy of Naturita, Colo.; brothers, Tom and Lewis; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service on Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. at VFW Post 9785 in Eagle River.

Arrangements are under the care of Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.