Maralyn Hartley

Palmer Colonist Maralyn Hartley, 95, passed away January 23, 2018 at her farm home surrounded by sorrowful family. The service and potluck will be held March 3, at 3 p.m. at Jannsen's Mat-Su Funeral Home on East Blue Lupine next to Hartley Motors Honda Shop.

Maralyn was born July 13, 1922 in Duluth, Minnesota to Lawrence Sulo and Inga Helen (Hallback) Vasanoja. She started first grade at age 5 in Woodland, a suburb of Duluth, after having also lived in Cromwell and Eagle Lake. From Sawyer they left for Alaska April 26, 1935. She was the only one in 8th grade at Matanuska and graduated from Palmer High School May 10, 1940. She worked with Wimmers for the Valley Settler (now The Frontiersman) when the office was in the creamery building. She worked at the Soda Fountain which became Stock and Brocks then owned by The Co-op. In September Lee came back from the mine at Ophir. They married October 30, 1940, Lee, 22, Maralyn, 18, and bore three daughters. She did the books for Hartley Motors while it was their Ford dealership for many years and then the current Honda Shop. Their happiest memories in later years were motorhome trips bringing the grandkids. Maralyn loved dancing, pretty dishes, photography, knitting and providing delicious and memorable meals from her beautiful garden. A good and faithful wife she was efficient, productive, unselfish, very generous, kind, conscientious and fun. Daughter Clare Fischer died in 2011. Survivors include Signe (Mike) Wellman, Brenda Valley, grandchildren Denise (Jeff) Nelson, Randy Moffitt, Andrea Dunnigan, Grant (Susie) Dunnigan, Krystal Moffitt, Eric Moffitt, Alice Mobley, Trina Arthur, Jamie Davis, Grace Valley, 28 great and 21 great greats. Also survived by siblings, Lawrence Vasanoja, Pearl Jensen, and Marcella Hartley. Sister Dorothy Hildre passed in 2013.