Luzelle (Jill) LeClaire

Luzelle (Jill) LeClaire, 102, passed away peacefully on Sept. 3, 2013, her 74th wedding anniversary.

Jill was born March 6, 1911, and lived a most interesting life. She was born in a sod house on the prairie outside of Padroni, Colo., yet she was well educated and a true class act.

She was a registered nurse and one of the first airline stewardesses for United Airlines in the 1930s. Later, she raised her children, but went back to work as a nurse once they had graduated from high school. That’s right — she was a liberated woman who didn’t miss out on a career or a family.

Jill moved to Wasilla upon the passing of her husband, Delbert LeClaire, in 2001. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Daryl McRoberts.

Surviving are her son, Thomas LeClaire of Chico, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Daryl McRoberts of Wasilla; grandchildren, Roger McRoberts (Caroline) of Spokane, Wash., Cathy Welch (Dean) of Gillette, Wyo., Rebecca Williams (Sean) of Palmer, Romy Loran (James) of Kalispell, Mont. and Edward LeClaire (Laura) of Portland, Ore.; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A service is at 3 p.m., Sept. 8 at Christ First United Methodist Church in Wasilla. Memorial donations may be made to Christ First United Methodist Women — Jill’s Garden.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory.