MARY WICKERSHAM

Mary Layne Wickersham, 59, died July 8, 2004, in Wasilla. She requested that her family make no service arrangements for her death.

Mrs. Wickersham was born Aug. 18, 1944 in Scobey, Mont., the second daughter of Gordon and Alice Jewel Downing. She was 10 years old when her family moved to Alaska in September 1954. She witnessed many changes, from territorial days to the election of Frank Murkowski as state governor.

She was a commercial fisherman from the time she was 18 years old and continued in this profession for 30-some years. During this period, she held several other varied job positions, including a construction camp manager in Adak, waitress, cook, court clerk and office manager for a successful plumbing company in Homer.

Her family said, "Mary Layne packed a lot of living into a short life, she enjoyed traveling and did so every chance she had with her good friend, Rose. She laughed often and loved the company of children as well as her many friends and extended family.

"She enjoyed playing cards, scrabble, perquacky and playing music. She worked hard at everything she did and had many artistic talents, to include macram/, flower arranging, painting, home decorating and coloring.

"Mary always had an eye for beauty and great taste. In lieu of a service, Mary wanted her loved ones to smile when they saw a rainbow, a beautiful sunset or the wonder upon the face of a youth when discovering something new. She asks that, in each of the instances, her loved ones smile as they remember her zest for life.

"She did not want hearts heavy with sadness. She wanted her people to smile and live life to its fullest, knowing she is now "home" -- loved, safe and warm while still able to watch over her loved ones left behind. She will be missed by many people who loved and cared for her deeply. She loved her family and friends dearly and her door was always open."

Her mother, A. Jewel Hillstrom; grandfather, Gordon Downing and her infant daughter, Jewel, preceded Mrs. Wickersham in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Layne Wickersham and her family; granddaughter, Miranda Magee; great-grandchildren, Cameron and Carissa Swanson; grandson, John Magee Jr.; son, Michael Wickersham and his wife, Tonya, and grandson, David Wickersham; father, Howard Hillstrom and his wife, Lillian; four sisters, three brothers and a large number of extended family, to include nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, her "other" daughter and her "sisterperson."

Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.