MAURICE EATON GOFF

Maurice E. Goff died Sept. 22, 2010, of natural causes. He was 92.

Maurice was born Sept. 4, 1918, in West Barnard, Mo., to Fred and Emma Goff. He was one of six children, and his siblings were Fredrick, DeEtte, Roberta, Edwin and twin sister Maurine, all of whom are deceased.

He was brought up in Northwest Missouri on various farms and schooled in that same area. At the age of 16, Maurice was in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tarhio, Mo. At the age of 20, he migrated to Alaska and worked in a hard rock mine located on Quartz Creek near Moose Pass.

Maurice returned to the Lower 48 to attend and then graduate from Lincoln Aviation Flying School. During World War II, he worked for the Lockheed Aircraft Corp. as a service representative with the Army Air Force and the Naval Air Arm.

On Oct. 2, 1941, Maurice married Dorothy Lamb of Lincoln, Neb, and returned to Anchorage in 1946. Dorothy and their three children — Maurice Jr., Connie and Priscilla — followed. Their son Martin was born later in Alaska.

Maurice worked for Pacific Northern Airlines for 25 years in Alaska. Upon retiring, he and Dorothy farmed the Bill Lentz farm in Palmer for several years and then moved to Marsing, Idaho, raising cattle for several more years.

Homesick for Alaska, they returned in 1987 and settled near Wasilla. He treasured Alaska for its hunting, fishing and exploring.

Maurice enjoyed flying for 30 years and was involved in aviation for more than 50 years. In March 1995, Maurice was awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award by the Federal Aviation Administration.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Dorothy; daughter, Connie Blanton; and grandson, Maurice Eaton Goff III.

Maurice is survived by children Maurice Jr., Priscilla and Martin; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were by Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel and graveside services are Oct. 9 at Angeles Memorial Park in Anchorage.

“Our family would like to extend a very special thank you to ‘TJ’ and her wonderful staff at Grandma K’s assisted living home in Anchorage, whose compassionate care eased dad’s remaining days,” the family wrote.