SUSAN D. TOWERY

Wasilla resident Susan Dawn Towery, 52, died of natural causes at her home in Wasilla on Oct. 30, 2004.

A funeral service with visitation is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, at the Valley Funeral Home Chapel in Wasilla. Floral donations are welcome and appreciated. Her ashes will be buried with her son and parents in Placerville, Calif.

Ms. Towery was born March 25, 1952, in Sebastapol, Calif., where she earned her general equivalency diploma. She moved to Alaska in 1982.

She became employed with Mat-Su Services for Adults and Children in 1982 and continued her work there until her death. She loved being a homemaker, caring for her birds, gardening, creating stained-glass artworks and drawing art -- especially of birds. She was a member of the Alaska Bird Club for the last five years.

Her family wrote, "Sue was a very loving and caring person. She devoted her life to helping other people. She always put her friends and family first. She was always active with some kind of craft projects. She especially enjoyed all of her beautiful birds that she had raised from babies. She had a special bond with her birds that will always be remembered."

She is survived by her husband, Martin; sisters, Janice Key of Placerville, Calif. and Linda Jessen of North Carolina; brothers-in-law, Jimmy, Donnie and Kenny of Oregon; father-in-law, James Towery of Oregon; two nieces and three nephews of California.

Donations may be sent to Martin Towery, HC33, Box 3208LL, Wasilla, AK 99654.

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