MARY L. "LUCY" ROBERTS

Former longtime Alaska resident Mary Lucille "Lucy" Roberts, 77, died July 18, 2001, at Central Oregon Health Care in Bend, Ore. A viewing was July 20 in Bend.

Mrs. Roberts was born March 27, 1924, in Duluth, Minn., and was adopted by Edward and Beatrice Grignon. She graduated with a bachelor's degree as a medical laboratory technologist from St. Scholastica College in Duluth, Minn.

Her career and marriage began in Honolulu, Hawaii. She met and married Royal Jackson "Bob" Roberts. The Air Force took them to Chicago, Las Vegas, Waco, Texas and Anchorage. She lived in Alaska with her husband and six children from 1961 to 1989, living in many Bush communities, including Hooper Bay, Mountain Village, Emmonak and Nome after Bob retired from the service. In 1989, she and Bob retired to Bend.

Mrs. Roberts worked as a lab tech every place she lived. She was administrator of Valley Hospital for two years, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and a member of the American Legion. She volunteered for Hospice of Bend, Deschutes County Victim's Assistance and, most recently, St. Vincent De Paul Social Services.

Mrs. Roberts enjoyed traveling with her husband, volunteer work and visiting family and friends.

Her family said, "Reading was a great source of enjoyment. Many who worked and volunteered alongside her will miss her jovial sense of humor and her ability to rise to any occasion put before her."

Her husband, Royal Jackson "Bob" Roberts, died in 1992.

She is survived by her children, Patricia Lani Dombrowski, of Balikpapan, Indonesia, Michael Terrance Roberts, of Van Nuys, Calif., James Daniel Roberts, of Spokane, Wash., Thomas John Roberts, of Palmer, Deborah M. Westoby, of Warrenton, Ore., and Kathleen Mary Willequer, of Wasilla; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and half-brother and half-sisters, Kate Anderson, of Grantsburg, Wis., Rita Dunbar, of Big Lake, Minn., John Ganser, of Stillwater, Minn., Florence Ulrich, of Glenwood City, Wis., and Judy Lund, of Stillwater.

A celebration (potluck style) of Mrs. Robert's life will be Sunday, July 29 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Train Depot in Palmer. "Please bring a dish and memories to share at this casual celebration in honor of our mother," the family said.