Mary Joyce Walter

A celebration of life for Houston resident Mary Joyce Walter, 70, is Jan. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Anchorage, 440 E. Klatt Road on the grounds of Angelus Memorial Park, with a potluck following. Please bring a dish to share, along with memories and pictures of Joyce. Her cremated remains will be scattered this summer in Alaska and South Carolina.

Joyce died Jan. 12, 2011, at Two Sisters Assisted Living Center in Wasilla. She was born Dec. 5, 1940, in West Palm Beach, Fla., and came to Alaska on May 31, 1975.

She was a legal secretary for Chris Johansen from 1984 to 2008 and for Marvin Clark from 2008 to 2010, when she retired in August 2010 after a cancer diagnosis.

She was a member of the St. Bernard Club of Alaska. She enjoyed oil and acrylic painting, wood, ivory and soapstone carving, camping, fishing, gardening, traveling, playing a myriad of musical instruments, quilting, knitting and crocheting.

According to her family, “Mom’s many talents were multifaceted. Everything from camping to crocheting, fishing to quilting, musical abilities to gardening — she excelled at them all. Mom could light up any room with her smile and the sparkle in her eyes. She was loved, admired by many and she will be greatly missed.”

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, C. Jeffrey and Kay Brooks of Newberry, S.C.; daughter and son-in-law, Aimee R. and Daniel Bourassa of Big Lake; daughter and fiancé, Kristen G. Brooks and David Lane of Anchorage; grandsons, Jeffrey A. Brooks of Newberry, S.C., Casey F. Johnson of Eagle River and Barratt B. Chadwick of Anchorage; granddaughters, Kristen N. Brooks of Newberry and Rachael D. Chadwick of Anchorage; 12 great grandchildren; numerous cousins and many close friends; and her best friend, Mali (her cat).

She was preceded in death by her former husband, C.R. Brooks; parents, Harry Bell and Rosalie (Tarantino) Bell; and a granddaughter, Stacy Brooks.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be directed to Mat-Su Regional Hospice, 950 E. Bogard Rd., Suite 132, Wasilla, AK 99654 or to the ASPCA, 549 W. Int’l Airport Rd., Suite B-2, Anchorage, AK 99518.

Arrangements were by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory of Wasilla.