Joel Read Jr.

Joel Lynn Read Jr. was surrounded by family when his life was taken by staph pneumonia Jan. 20, 2008, at St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage. He was 51.

Read was born Sept. 23, 1956, in Crowell, Texas. In 1963, he moved with his family to Alaska, and in 1968 began homesteading up Knik River on Hunter Creek. He continued to live in the Palmer area until his death.

The same adventurous spirit he shared with his father led him on many exciting journeys, which included climbing mountains, riding his Harley around the Hawaiian Islands and king crab fishing in the Bering Sea. Mainly, Read’s life was all about living the Alaska dream of hunting and fishing. What he loved most was spending time with his friends and family fishing for halibut off Anchor Point or king salmon fishing on the Deshka River. Read had a genuinely good heart and was always reaching out to help others.

For many years he worked on the North Slope oil fields as a specialty truck driver and was a partner in Knik River Timber Products LLC. He was proud of being awarded a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to expand and produce the value-added product of kiln-dried lumber for cabinetry and indoor flooring from locally harvested dead standing timber.

Throughout his busy full life, Read maintained close personal relationships with his mother, stepfather, sisters, nieces, nephews and great nephew. He was blessed with many close and wonderful friends over the years. He treasured his friendships dearly and loved the many visits he had from so many during his brief illness.

Read’s family would like express its deep, heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Brady and his excellent medical staff in the ICU of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and the doctors and incredible staff of St. Elias for their respectful and superior care of Read during his last few months.

Read is survived by his mother and stepfather, Bobbie and Roger Brophy of Palmer; his sister and her husband, Susan and Sam Edge of Palmer, and their children, Jessica, Geoffrey and Laura and her son, Aden; his sister, Jill Mullins of Arizona; his sister, Janet Read and her husband Craig Price of Anchorage; and his sister, Amy Read and her son Dylan of Arizona. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins in Texas, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska.

He will be deeply missed by all, including many special friends and his beloved canine companion, Kelsey. He was preceded in death by his father, Joel Lynn Read Sr.

A memorial service was held Jan. 26 at the Valley Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations to the local Red Cross or Salvation Army would be appreciated. The family will also host a celebration of Read’s life this summer on its homestead at Hunter Creek to carry out his last wishes of being returned to the earth in the place he loved and called home.

Editor’s note: This obituary is being reprinted to correct errors, including the deceased’s date of death.