OPAL IRENE TOOMEY

Opal Irene (Sitze) Toomey died peacefully at her home May 5, 2010, one day after her 89th birthday.

Opal was born May 4, 1921, in Redfield, Ark., to Monroe Hale and Vestie Jane (Brown) Sitze, and was raised on a succession of farms in southern Missouri. At the age of 14, Opal relocated to Seattle. When Opal was a young teen she obtained what must have been one of the first issues of Alaska Sportsman magazine and the beautiful pictures and descriptions of the country inspired a dream of someday living in Alaska.

In 1946, Opal realized her dream when she, her husband and infant daughter moved to Anchorage. Regarding her first impressions of Alaska, Opal said, “I felt an instant connection to this place. The wilderness and outdoor life were right for me and I never looked back.”

For Opal it was the beginning of a love affair with Alaska that lasted for more than 60 years.

After a brief stint of living in a Quonset hut on H Street, which was the only housing available at the time, Opal’s family built a home on the east edge of Anchorage and later a second home on a ridge above Muldoon Road.

In 1953, Opal and her family homesteaded on the north side of the Little Susitna River, a challenging endeavor that resulted in much hard work and many adventures. During the first year of proving up the homestead, Opal homeschooled her children and took on the many tasks necessary to establish a home and farm. For years, Opal was occupied with raising her children, fishing, hunting, gathering, gardening and farming on the homestead. In her early 40s, her life changed and for a few years, she worked as a bookkeeper/office manager for the Teamster’s Local 959 in Anchorage and later, during the construction of the pipeline, she resumed her employment with the Teamsters as a fueler on the North Slope. However, even when she had to work away from the homestead, Opal continued to farm on a small scale. From the early 1980s until her retirement in 1997 at the age of 76, Opal was employed at the Dorothy G. Page Museum, where she shared her knowledge of the history and geography of Alaska with many tourists and local residents who visited the museum.

Opal was a brave and energetic adventurer who enjoyed exploring the world. Traveling with family or on her own, she toured Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, most of the Lower 48, Europe, Australia and Central America. In 1971-72 she drove to and from Costa Rica, where she lived for a year with her son Craig, who was then 12 years old.

Opal was a builder, designer, mechanic, seamstress, outdoorswoman, baker of delicious pies and grower of gorgeous flowers and vegetables. She loved to read and was a lifelong learner who continued to take college classes well into her 70s.

Above all, Opal cherished her children and grandchildren. She was consistently encouraging and supportive, even when it was not easy, and always extended herself to help her children achieve their goals and dreams.

Opal is survived by her daughter, Melody Jamieson (Sandy) of Fairbanks; son, Craig Toomey (Valerie Amouak) of Wasilla; daughter-in-law Trudy Toomey of Wasilla; granddaughter, Abigail Paul (Oran) of Fairbanks; granddaughter, Megan Toomey of Wasilla; granddaughter, Melissa Nelson (Galen) of Anchorage; grandson, Ben Jamieson of Oregon, grandson, Jeremy Toomey of Anchorage; great-grandsons, Brandon Toomey and Gus and Carter Paul; and great-granddaughter, Baby Nelson, due to be born in September. Also surviving are her nieces, Katherine Hettrick (Larry) and their children of Wasilla, and Nancy Carrick McLean (John) of Washington; cousin, Frank Bush (Carolyn) and their children of Wasilla; special friend Kathryn Carr of Pennsylvania; several cousins in the Lower 48 and many friends in Alaska and elsewhere.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Perry, Paul, Earl and M.H.; sisters, Senia, Euple and Bermel; nephew, Tim Carrick; and her son, Terry Toomey.

Opal was buried on her homestead on May 12 and honored in a nearby gathering attended by family and friends.