Shari Lynn Spurgeon

Shari Lynn Spurgeon, 73, died Sept. 7, 2012, at her home in Wasilla following a battle with cancer.

A potluck celebration of life for Shari is at 2 p.m., Sept. 29 at the Palmer Elks Lodge on 2600 N. Barry’s Resort Drive, Wasilla. All friends are welcome to join the family.

Shari was born July 18, 1939, in Rapid City, S.D., daughter of Richard and Bernie Anderson. As a young child, she moved to Sweet Home, Ore., with her parents. She spent her formative years in that area and graduated from Sweet Home. In 1956, she married Red Richardson and became the mother of two beautiful daughters.

Following the death of her first husband, she found her soul mate, Roger Howard. They followed construction life from the Oregon logging communities to Southeast Alaska, where they lived for a time in Ketchikan, Sitka, Cordova and eventually ended up settling in the Wasilla area where they have remained the past 21 years.

After 42 years in the banking business, Shari eventually retired in 1999 from the Palmer branch of Wells Fargo. She was also a life member of the Elks Lodge, Sweet Home, Ore.

Surviving is her partner of 30 years, Roger Howard; daughter, Patricia Richardson and granddaughter, Rochelle Richardson of The Dalles, Ore.; grandson, Keith Vega of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Barbara Hickman and Sandy Dyktra of the Portland area; and step-sons, Randy Howard of Wasilla, Joe Howard of Anchorage and Rodney Howard of Prince of Wales Island; many nieces, nephews; an unaccountable number of friends; and, her best friends in the world, Bandit and Charlie, her loving pets.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her daughter, Christine.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Palmer Elks Lodge in loving memory of Shari.

Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory. A guestbook and obituary are online at alaskanfuneral.com.