July 28, 2006

DOLORES ‘LORY' KAY SUTPHIN

Dolores &#8220Lory” Kay Sutphin, 53, died July 25, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer due to cancer. A service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2006, at St. David's Episcopal Church in Wasilla.

The Rev. Paul Klitzke will officiate.

She was born Sept. 3, 1952, in Mt. Clemons, Mich., and lived in Linder, Mich., from 1956-2004. In July 2004, she moved to Dillingham, where she stayed until November 2004, when she moved to Sitka. She lived there until October 2005, and lived in Wasilla since then.

She was a lifelong Episcopalian. She volunteered in Dillingham at the library's adult learning center and Happy Tails Pet Shelter. She earned a community service award. Some of her hobbies included collecting dolls, fairies and teddy bears. She loved cats and often had up to four that she cared for.

Her family stated, &#8220Lory will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her pets.”

She is survived by her sister, Diane Shaw of Grand Blanc, Mich.; brother, Bill Sutphin of Winnsboro, Texas; sister, Bonnie Sutphin of Wasilla; brother, David Sutphin of Linden; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James Miller, mother, Jeanne Sutphin and father, Herman Sutphin.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Happy Tails Animal Shelter (specify for care of cats) at P.O. Box 597, Dillingham, AK 99576.

Her ashes will be buried at Fairview Cemetery in Linden.

Arrangements were made with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.

ROGER RYALL

Wasilla resident Roger Ryall, 79, died July 21, 2006, at Providence Medical Center. No services are planned.

He was born July 30, 1926, in Clearwater, Fla., and moved to Alaska in 1999. He resided in Palmer until 2004, and then moved to Wasilla. He was a heavy equipment operator for Local 542. He enjoyed stock car racing in the 1950s and 60s, and deep sea fishing.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Roger H. and Jackie Ryall of Lincoln, Del., David A. and Joanne Ryall of Frederica, Del., and Donald A and Patricia Ryall of Wasilla; daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne and Wally Mergenthaler of Willmington, Del., Judi and DeWitt Cowell of Newbern, N.C., Janet L and Jamie Betts of Georgetown, Del., and Joyce Wilkenson of Newbern, N.C.; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Joyce Dringle of Wasilla and Nancy Davis of Harrison, Ariz.

Friends and family may leave tributes at www.mem.com.

Arrangements were provided by Witzleben Family Funeral Home.

PATRICK MICHAEL MURPHY

Patrick Michael Murphy, 47, died July 11, 2006, of a brain hemorrhage while being treated at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage for complications from a bone marrow transplant that he received in February, 2006.

A memorial celebration of his life is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, at the Motherlode Lodge in Palmer.

He was born June 11, 1959, in East Lansing, Mich. He grew up in Mt. Prospect, Ill., and graduated in 1982 from Northern Michigan University with a degree in natural resources management and conservation of recreational resources. He left for Alaska shortly after graduation to pursue his dream to live and work in the Last Frontier.

He spent his life living his passion for being outdoors. After a season in Denali National Park, he began a respected career in 1985 as a park ranger with Alaska State Parks on the Kenai River before transferring to the Hatcher Pass area in 1987, where he worked for more than 18 years. He was proudest of his efforts to preserve the historic nature of the Independence Mine and transform Hatcher Pass into the popular and safe multi-use recreational Mecca that it is today.

He was an avid, accomplished outdoorsman and hunter who never tired of exploring the Talkeetna Mountains surrounding his remote lakeside cabin. His ashes will be scattered at his favorite overlook just before the upcoming hunting season. He always will be remembered for his intense love of wild lands, his incredible personal strength, his devotion and support to those he loved, and his playful sense of humor. Many lives have been forever enriched from sharing life with this man.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Barnes, of Wasilla; children, Joe and Amy Murphy of Chugiak; brother, Tom Murphy of Mesa, Ariz.; sister, Lynn Murphy of Portland, Ore.; mother, Mary Murphy of Mesa; and father, Michael Murphy and his wife Willie of Aiken, S.C.

To honor the legacy of his contributions to Hatcher Pass, a fund has been created to initiate and support recreational-use projects there. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Patrick Murphy Memorial Fund in care of Friends of State Parks, Mat-Su, 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 3, PMB 323, Palmer, AK 99645.

Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. For more information, contact Pam Barnes at 907-441-8472

ELDON L. REICH

Eldon L. Reich, 77, a resident of Dallas, Ore., died July 3, 2006. He was born in Portage, Ind., on Nov. 2, 1928, the son of Lester and Evelyn Borg Reich.

He graduated from Portage High School. Being the caring and responsible young man he was, he entered the Navy during World War II at an early age to help support his widowed mother and his siblings.

He married Dolores (Dee) H. Leeper on Nov. 25, 1950, in Portage, and they shared 56 glorious and adventurous years together. He held many jobs as a young man before settling in the construction business. He was a &#8220legendary” brick mason for many years in Indiana. In 1969, they moved to New Port Richey, Fla., where his construction company was R&L Builders. They spent many wonderful years there before they journeyed to Palmer, where he started Reich Construction. He retired to Dallas in 2001.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Dolores &#8220Bun” of Dallas; daughter, Draba and husband Pat Monroe of Dallas; son, Eldon Reich Jr. and wife Terri of North Carolina; son, Jerry Reich of California; daughter, Maria and husband &#8220Frenchie” Desrosiers of Florida; son, Craig and wife Lynn Reich of Dallas; and daughter, Paula and husband Dave Theiss of Dallas; 33 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister, Jane Fifield; and half-brother, David Luke, both of Florida.

They traveled many places and gathered a numerous array of friends along the way. He was a known workaholic who also could enjoy life to the fullest, and he shared both with all who knew him. He was a practical joker, a confidant and a true gentleman. He was a man of his word. He was a pillar of strength and role model to all. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying airplanes and boating. Ahh, the tales! But above all, he adored his wife and all children. He and his smile will be sorely missed. For to know him was to love him. &#8220By golly!”

Private family services were held. Memorials are suggested to the West Valley Hospital Foundation in care of the Bollman Funeral Home at 694 Main St. Dallas, Ore., 97338. To leave and online condolence, go to www.bollmanfuneralhome.com.

SHIRLEY JEAN HURD EKREN

Shirley Jean Hurd Ekren, 81, died July 19, 2006. A pioneer of Alaska, she was born in Washington state Feb. 16, 1925, to Fred and Edith Hurd. In 1934, in a small, overloaded boat, they snuck out of Puget Sound during the night. Arriving in Anchorage, they came by train to homestead on the shores of Wasilla Lake where she, her brother, Ken, and sister, Juanita, helped her parents build a cabin of hand-hewn logs. She married twice and raised six children in Alaska. She and husband Harley Ekren helped operate the family cannery at Kasintsna Bay for 25 years before returning to Wasilla. She was a skilled homemaker, quilter and an avid reader.

She is survived by her children, Doug Pieren of Seldovia, Rod (Lorraine) Pieren of Arizona, Linda Ekren Crandall of Ohio, Wendy Ekren (Ken Plourd) of Washington state, Mike Ekren of Washington state and Kirsten Ekren (David Mason) of Wasilla; six grandchildren, Darren and Jenny Pieren, Andy Ekren and Heather Crandall, and Jason and Sarah Plourd; and six great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, parents, brother and sister.

Burial was noon, Monday, July 24, 2006, at the Wasilla Aurora Cemetery in the care of Kehls Palmer Mortuary.