Mary Knox

Mary Knox, 79, passed away peacefully in Anchorage Jan. 30, 2015, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born on July 7, 1935, in Ottawa, Kansas, to Andres and Ramona Martinez. She joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and met her future husband, William (Bill) Knox, at Stewart Air Force Base in New York. They were wed in 1957 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Mary arrived in Alaska in 1959. Her husband’s deployments took her away from Alaska in the mid-1960s but they returned in 1972 and have called Alaska home since then. She worked and retired as a manager from JC Penney and after retiring she became an avid gardener who enjoyed entertaining friends and family on her beautiful deck. Every spring she would build flower gardens that were truly awe inspiring and bigger every year. Her love for her family, friends and especially life was an inspiration to all who met her. She was kind-hearted, warm and friendly, had a quick wit and great sense of humor. She will be missed dearly and always remembered.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Andres and Ramona and her daughter, Cindy Knox of Palmer. She is survived by her husband, Bill Knox of Anchorage; son, Richard “Skip” Knox and his wife Gina of Wasilla; granddaughters‘, Laline and Shelby Knox; Brothers, Andy, Frank and Johnny Martinez: Sisters, Ruth, Suzy and Cathy, their wives and husbands, numerous nieces, nephews and lots of family and friends.

A special word of thanks to the Providence medical staff that made her final days peaceful and comfortable, and especially to Carrie Haskell, who spent the last several years dedicated to her well-being.

In keeping with her and her husband’s final wishes, a private service will be held at Fort Richardson National Cemetery and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, 1750 Abbott Rd., Anchorage, AK 99507.

Arrangements are with Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel.