MARY IVA RARER

Wasilla resident Mrs. Mary Iva Rarer, 54, died Dec. 9, 2003, at her home.

A memorial service will be held Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, Mile 2.2 Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Wasilla.

Mrs. Rarer was born March 25, 1949, in Oil City, Pa.

She became a resident of Alaska in 1999.

Mrs. Rarer had been employed at All I Saw Cookware in Wasilla, she had worked at the Alaska State Fair and, most recently, she had been employed with Fred Meyer in Wasilla.

Mrs. Rarer was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church and she was a member of the National Rifle Association.

Her hobbies included skeet shooting, cooking and enjoying the beauty of Alaska.

Her family wrote, "Mary fulfilled a longtime dream of seeing Alaska when she and Don packed an RV full of belongings in Pennsylvania and traveled here in the spring of 1999. Their welcome to Alaska was a three-day blizzard at Northway on the Alcan Highway! The next three months they traveled the state and fell in love with the snow, land, flowers, animals and the people. Mary's smile, generosity, outgoing personality and love of cooking allowed her to turn strangers into friends. The empty place in our hearts is filled with memories of her love and caring for each of us."

Mrs. Rarer is survived by her husband Don Rarer; son Rick Rarer; sister and brother-in-law Lyril and Bob Banister; brothers and sisters-in-law Neil and Twila Rhines and Glenn and Darla Rhines; several nieces and nephews; and her very special friend, Paula Krizon.

Memorial donations may be made to St. David's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 870995, Wasilla, AK 99687-0995 and to Hospice of Mat-Su, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla, AK 99654-7234.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.