Nov. 3, 2006

Dustin James Edmondson

Dustin James Edmondson, 22, died Oct. 29, 2006, at his mother's home in Anchorage due to heart failure. A funeral service will be Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006, at 3 p.m. at the Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. There will be a public viewing from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Burial will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at Valley Funeral Home.

He was born June 23, 1984, in Saginaw, Mich. In 1995, he moved to Alaska. He lived in Wasilla in 1995 and then spent the rest of his life in Anchorage.

He worked as a construction laborer. Dustin's hobbies and loves were wrestling, snowboarding, skateboarding, snowmobiling, football and playing his X-Box. He wrestled all through school and won numerous awards while wrestling for Wasilla Junior High School.

His family stated, &#8220Dustin lived his unfinished life the way that he saw it. He was extremely close to his mother and brother, and his dream was to buy a big house for his mother, himself and his brother to live in someplace warm. He loved to laugh and play practical jokes. He loved to add to his huge hat collection, loved his alligator shoes and had a discerning taste for jewelry. He always said he had the ‘best hair in Alaska.' He will be dearly missed by everyone close to him.”

He is survived by his mother, Tina Edmondson of Anchorage; brother, Mitchel Edmondson of Anchorage; his dog, Dickens of Anchorage; grandmother, Esther Baker; aunts and uncles, Terri and Tim Cornelius, Janice and A. J. Johnson, and Danny and Sherry Armstrong, all of Wasilla; special friend, Clifford Baker of Anchorage; cousin, Rachel Armstrong and her newborn son, Jarif; numerous cousins in Anchorage, Wasilla and Michigan; girlfriend, Tammy Rice of Anchorage; great-aunts and uncles, Jim and Chris Anklam, and Ron and Kim Anklam; and great-uncle, Larry Anklam, all of Michigan; aunts, Carrie, Jill and Linda Foley of Michigan; aunts and uncles, Ceal and Tom Beakrow, Dave and Denise Lafaro, and Gino and Martha Cook, all of Michigan; stepfather, Albert Lafaro; stepsisters, Cindy, Becky and Grace Lafaro; stepbrother, Bert Lafaro, all of Michigan; friends, Jay, Shalea, Billy, Chris, David, Charlie, Merlin, Alcon, T. J., Doug, Angel, Coty, Big B's, C-Dub, John, J. Brown, Eric, Lydia, Kari, Brittany, Jenny and Heather.

He was preceded in death by his aunt, Tracy Suhan of Alaska; grandfathers, Robert Armstrong of Michigan, L. C. Baker of Alaska and Tim Foley of Michigan; and special friend, Trea Harvey of Alaska.

The family would appreciate flowers at the service.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.

Robert Louis Alvord

Robert Louis Alvord, 84, died Oct. 29, 2006, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer due to natural causes. A service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 4, 2006, at the Masonic Center on 15th and Eagle in Anchorage.

He was born Aug. 8, 1922, in Kankakee, Ill. He was in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945. He also served in the Philippines during World War II. In 1956, he moved to Alaska. He lived in Anchorage, Bristol Bay and Cordova.

He worked and lived all over Alaska. He was employed by White Alice Communications, Alaska Pipeline and ITT. In 1979, he retired from ITT.

He was affiliated with Mason, Alaska Shrine and Amaranth. His call sign was Ham Radio WL7BOA, and he also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

His family stated, &#8220Bob was a wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend to many. He believed in the ‘Brotherhood of Man' and sought always to lend a hand to any in need. He also loved his suspenders.”

He is survived by his wife, Chris Alvord of Big Lake; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Sandy Alvord of Benicia, Calif.; son, Dennis Alvord of San Jose, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Etta Alvord of Rochester, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Lou and Tina Alvord of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Rick Gifford of Kodiak; 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; and his dog, Heidi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Amaranth Diabetic Research at P.O. Box 876791, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Arrangements were with

Valley Funeral Home and

Crematory in Wasilla.

Norman Franklin Tyler Jr.

Norman &#8220Norm” Tyler died Oct. 24, 2006. He was born in Bend, Ore., March 25, 1936, to Norman F. &#8220Tip” Tyler Sr. and Theoda Gribble Tyler.

His family moved to Woodburn, Ore., where he completed his public education and followed in his father's footsteps as student body president for Woodburn High School in 1954.

He was awarded the honorary Chevalier degree by the Woodburn chapter of DeMolay.

He attended and graduated from Oregon State University in 1958 with a bachelor of science degree in business.

He was affiliated with and was a chapter officer in Phi Gamma Delta.

After a short term with the U.S. Air Force, he worked

for Standard Oil Company of California.

In 1962, he entered the insurance industry, where he worked for more than 40 years until his retirement.

He was the first certified insurance counselor (CIC) in Alaska.

He also taught numerous insurance courses for the Alaska Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers and served as its president in 1976.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Lynda of Big Lake; children, Thomas and Meg Tyler, Kathleen (Kate) and Tom Rice, Marc Canet of Anchorage, and Robert and Sandy Canet of Oregon; brother, Tom Tyler of Portland, Ore.; five grandchildren; many friends; and three dogs that were his constant

companions.

He and his wife owned Integra Insurance in Wasilla. He was a 50-year member of Phi Gamma Delta. Until his retirement, he was an active member of the Wasilla Rotary Club, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Big Lake Chamber of Commerce, Big Lake Lions Club, and was a 40-year member of the Elks Lodge.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 11, 2006, at the Big Lake Hotel, Hanger Restaurant in Big Lake. His ashes will be scattered in front of his residence on Big Lake, within sight of Mt. McKinley, which was his favorite view. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to the American Diabetes Association or Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue.