Melvin Gamble

Wasilla resident Melvin Allen Gamble died Oct. 30, 2007, at his home in Wasilla. He was 59.

Gamble was born Oct. 11, 1948, in Angoon to Andrew and Matilda Gamble. He was Sitka Kaagwaantaan of the Multiplying Wolf House of the lineage of Anaaxoots. His Tlingit name was Kaa.ooshtí. He was Deisheetaan yádi, as his father, Andrew Gamble Sr. (Aanya’), was from the Raven House in Angoon. He was also a Wooshkeetaan grandchild. His paternal grandfather, Gerald Gamble (Kaanshaawoo Éesh), came from the Thunderbird House of the Aak’w kwaan.

Gamble graduated from Chemawa High School in Salem, Ore. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He worked various jobs in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. His favorite job was longshoring in Dora Bay, owned by Kootznoowoo Inc. Family members said he had a passion for fishing and loved to hunt for deer and seal on and around Admiralty Island. He enjoyed sharing stories with his friends of the hunting and fishing trips he had taken. He was an active member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla and active shareholder of Kootznoowoo and Sealaska.

He was also a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 7 (Angoon).

Gamble was preceded in death by his father, Andrew Gamble Sr.; sisters, Adeline Porter and Andrea Eames; and brothers, Ivan Gamble and Fenton James. He is survived by his mother, Matilda Gamble, of Angoon; sisters, Jean (Dave) Hogue of Edmonds, Wash., and Gina Evans, of Juneau; brothers, Andrew (Joanne Wiita) Gamble of Juneau and Jerry (Cindy) Gamble of Craig; niece, Valerie (Harold) Gamble-Houston of Juneau; nephew, Randy Gamble of Angoon; aunt, Irene Paul of Sitka; daughters, Corrine Edwards of Yakutat, Tonya Morehouse of Sweet Home, Ore., Melinda (Rocky) Miller of Kenai and Melissa Ackley of Sweet Home; son, Talon Gamble of Palmer; grandchildren, Zachery Edwards, Tyler Moreland, Kirsten Moreland, Brittney Miller, Rebecca Miller, Brock Miller, Sierra Ackley, Carolyn Ackley, Brook Ackley, Nave Ackley and Bryce Martinez; and many nieces and nephews in Alaska, Minnesota and Washington.

A memorial service will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 25 at First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla, 1375 E. Bogard Road. Paster Henry Woodall may be reached at 376-5053 for additional information.

The family can be contacted at 9340 Lee Smith Drive, Juneau, AK 99801, or 796-3511.

Valley Funeral Homes and Crematory assisted the family.