Mary Jean McEvoy

Mary Jean McEvoy, 81, passed away Jan. 10, 2014, in Anchorage at the home of lifelong friends John and Ann Cannon. She was lovingly cared for by them both, and dear friend Rick Tracy, during her illness.

A celebration of life is at 2 p.m., Feb. 22 at the Tug Bar Goose Bay Inn, Mile 18.5, Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla. Her ashes will be scattered in Kachemak Bay this summer during a family celebration of life in Homer.

Mary Jean was born on Jan. 21, 1932, in Billings, Mont., and later moved with her family to Tacoma, Wash.

She married Jack Cornelius in 1950 and had two children, Tim and Theresa. In 1962, they moved to Usibelli and later to Fairbanks in 1964. She taught herself shorthand and worked for the Carrington Company. They enjoyed camping, boating and fishing as a family.

In 1979, she re-married to James McEvoy. She was employed as the school secretary in North Pole for eight years. They traveled extensively around the world. MJ particularly enjoyed times spent in Homer. They moved to Mesa, Ariz., where Jim passed in 1991. She returned to Alaska to live in Wasilla near her son, Tim. She worked as a volunteer with the Wasilla Food Bank. MJ was a member of the KMB Lions Club, where she was Club Historian. She was very generous with her time and efforts in community service projects.

MJ was very artistic with hobbies: painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, gardening and canning.

Mary Jean was preceded in death by her first husband, Jack; husband, James McEvoy; her parents, Lester and Ethel McLorinin; brothers, Melvin and Earl; and sisters, Elaine and Ruth.

Surviving are her daughter, Theresa Knutson and husband Robert of Austin, Minn.; son, Tim and wife Terri Cornelius of Wasilla; grandchildren, Shawn, Jason, Marcus, Jory and Kelsi Cornelius, Leif and Arik Olson; great-grandchildren, Samantha and Lynnea; and close friends, Ann and John Cannon, Rick Tracy, Kristen Wilson, Tina and Mitch Edmonson; her beloved Pomeranian, Socks; and many other closes friends, whose lives she has touched.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you honor her commitment to her community with donations to Valley organizations providing services of care.

Arrangements cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.