Lori Jean Peterson-McKoon

Wasilla resident Lori Jean Peterson-McKoon, 47, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Feb. 23, 2010.

A memorial service will be held March 6 at 2 p.m. at Church on The Rock in Wasilla. Gary Outhout will officiate at the service. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church.

Lori was born on June 23, 1962, in Cheyenne, Wyo., to Joseph and Nancy Peterson. She attended Redmond and Stanwood elementary schools and Concordia Lutheran School in Tacoma, Wash.

In 1980, Lori moved to Alaska, living in several places — including Soldotna, Kasilof, Valdez and Cordova — before settling down and calling Wasilla her home.

She was employed as a commercial fisherman, she worked as a CNA in the 1980s at Harborview in Valdez with special needs clients, K-Mart in the 1990s, and she most recently worked as a traffic control supervisor.

She was on the Good News Committee while working for K-Mart (Helping those in need). Lori enjoyed crafts, photography, genealogy, garage sales, cooking and her many different collections, plus she had a massive love of her horse, Shilo and her dogs, Rudy, Sugar and Poofer, as well as a real love for books.

“Lori was a very loving, kind, outgoing, good-spirited person. A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and a great friend. She was a fun person to be around and had a laugh larger than life and will never be forgotten. Besides, she made great cookies. Lori was Dennis’ whole world. She was his motivator, his companion, his lover, his biggest pest and his best friend. Words cannot express his loss,” said the family.

She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Dennis McKoon of Wasilla; son, D.J. (Kira) Harris of Wasilla; daughter, Nancy (Josh) Harris of Wasilla; mother, Gloria Peterson of Stanwood, Wash.; brother, Britt Peterson of Sedro Woolley, Wash.; grandmother Amanda Daniels of Sedro Woolley; grandson, Kayden Ahern of Wasilla; honorary grandchildren, Kemalie and Jamie Henson of Wasilla; parents-in-law, Ben and Bobbie McKoon of Algona, Wash.; sister-in-law, Denise (Steve) Wolk of Kenai; sister-in-law, Heather (James) Watts of Portland, Ore.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Nancy Peterson; grandparents, Ruby and Andy Nidelkoff, Joseph and Aleene Peterson, and Jesse Daniels; mother-in-law, Wandalee Schmahl; father-in-law, Henri Maillard III-; and brother-in-law, Henri Maillard IV.

Lori’s ashes will be buried at Bethel Cemetery in Cheyenne.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.