TRACY SHELDEN

Wasilla resident Tracy Lynn Shelden, 34, died June 20, 2003, from injuries in a fall in the Twin Peaks area near Eklutna.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, at the Palmer Seventh-day Adventist Church on Inner Springer Loop Road. Private family burial was at the Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.

Mr. Shelden was born April 22, 1969, at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. He attended schools in the Chugiak area and had an associate's degree from University of Alaska Anchorage in food service. He lived in the Peters Creek/Eagle River for 28 years, and in Wasilla for the past six years. He was a cook for the National Guard Youth Corps program since 1993. He was a member of the Wasilla Seventh-day Adventist Church.

His family said, "Tracy's faith and family had his heart and his time. Tracy was a ray of sunshine to our lives. He had one of those contagious smiles that warmed the hearts of all. There are no words to express the depth of our loss. However, we have the 'blessed hopeâ (Titus 2:13) of seeing him soon at the resurrection of the justâ (Luke 14:14).' He had recently committed his life to Jesus Christ and because of that faith, we cling to the promise, 'For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lordâ (Romans 6:13).'"

Survivors are his wife Stephanie Shelden; children Dylan, Savanna, Sabrina, Shoshannah and Seth; parents Finis and Sharon Shelden; sister Lilly Shelden; grandfather Finis R. Shelden; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial fund for the benefit of his children is being set up at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

Arrangements by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory.