Luella “Lou” Maines

Wasilla resident Luella Maines, 86, died July 5, 2011, at Adams Assisted Living Home in Wasilla.

A celebration of life is at 2 p.m., July 24, at the home of Bob and Pam Ockerlander, 3720 W. Chestnut Ln., Wasilla.

Luella was born Dec. 18, 1924, in St Paul, Minn., the daughter of Villus and Edna (Krey) Borchardt.

Luella “Lou” Maines spent her youth on a farm in Wisconsin during the Depression. She loved adventure and travel and was never afraid to go it alone.

During her life she made homes in Washington, Texas and Georgia, but called Alaska home.

As a widow and young single mother she transported race cars across the Midwest to make ends meet. She also owned and operated two successful taverns.

The early years in Alaska were spent on a rustic homestead in the Mat-Su Valley, where she loved to forage for berries and rose hips. Lou was known for her cooking, baking and canning, and she often shared her bounty with others. Every place she lived she had a thriving garden and there were few periods in her life where she did not have a dog by her side. They were her love and constant companions.

Lou enjoyed sharing her life with people and had a special place in her heart for children in need.

She could talk with anyone she met and was a great listener. In her later years, the telephone was an indispensable tool for her keeping in touch with friends and family when she could no longer travel. Two of her former husbands were career military men and she joined them in supporting young men and women who were far from home. Lou was an indomitable woman who, when she decided on a course of action, let no obstacle stand in her way.

“The family extends heartfelt appreciation to Juanita, Sharra and Warren at Adams Assisted Living Home for the loving care they extended to our mother during her final illness,” the family wrote. “We also send our gratitude to Dr. Cathy Baldwin Johnson for her many years as Lou’s physician. Her loving kindness and patience with our mother will always be remembered.

“The family also wishes to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer for all their dedicated compassionate and loving care.”

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory Wasilla cared for the family.