ROBERT ALLEN ARNEY SR.

Wasilla resident Robert Allen Arney, Sr., 69, died Aug. 25, 2003, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage. No service was held.

Mr. Arney became a resident of Alaska in 1971, living in Anchorage. He later moved to Wasilla with his wife and son.

Mr. Arney owned and operated a taxi in Anchorage for many years. He worked several jobs through Teamsters Local 959 and he retired from the Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Department in 1990. He had also worked part-time at Fishhook Foodmart and at Gottschalks through Kellermeyer Building Services.

Mr. Arney served in the United States Navy. He was interested in the Civil War and was a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He enjoyed doing ancestry research with his brother and traveling the United States visiting historical sites. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association and very active in the Aleutian Estates Water Association, organizing and campaigning for improvements in his subdivision. He was a Chicago Bears fan.

His family said, "Robert was an upbeat conversationalist who never met a stranger. His laughter and good-natured kidding were his trademark and will be missed by his family and many friends."

He was an avid collector of John Wayne memorabilia and his wife has chosen a John Wayne decanter from his collection to inurn his ashes.

Mr. Arney was preceded in death by his son Jeff, his father Walter and his brother Doug.

He is survived by his wife Brenda; son and daughter-in-law Robert and Marlo Arney Jr. of Las Vegas, son Skyler Arney of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters and sons-in-law, Debi Chapman of Las Vegas, Dana and David Dorias of Yakima, Wash., Melody and Bruce Jacobson of Lynnwood, Wash.; mother Anna Buker of Murray, Ky.; brother and sister-in-law Walter and Dorothy Arney of Oceanside, Calif.; mother-in-law Shirley Slone; grandchildren Angie, Eryka, Zack, Aubree, Robert, Kyle, Kristina, Jennifer, Lauren and Bruce; great-grandchildren Amanda and Dylan; extended family in Anchorage and Oregon; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Isabelle and Kraig.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.