VEDA McBRIDE

Wasilla resident Veda L. McBride, 74, died Sept. 19, 2000, at Valley Hospital in Palmer, from what her son said were "those damned cigarettes."

Private services are pending notification of friends and family who may want to attend.

Mrs. McBride was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Gaines County, Texas. She graduated from high school and worked many years with the Farmers Home Administration. She bartended many places in Palmer during the 1970s, and worked occasional jobs on the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. She also had a personal computer writing services business in the 1980s. She retired in 1988.

She came to Alaska in 1966 and resided in Wrangell/Southeast Alaska from 1966 to 1968. She lived in Palmer from 1968 to 1976, in Nikiski from 1976 to 1980, in Kenai from 1980 to 1998, and in Wasilla from 1998 until the time of her death.

She was a member of the Moose Lodge in Palmer , the American Legion in Kenai, and the Elks Lodge. Her hobbies included travel and making friends everywhere she went.

Her family said: "One of Mom's favorite sayings was 'Don't wait on me.' She always asked that no one mourn her loss, and that life was for the living. Remember the good times she brought to your lives."

She was preceded in death by her husband, William McBride; mother, Iva Mae Porter; and children, JoRita Smith and Haskel Ray White.

Surviving are son and daughter-in-law, Frank C. and Sindy L. White of Wasilla; grandchildren, Obeleo, Nolan and Caleb White of Wasilla, and Mindy and Holly White of Oregon; cousin, Aubrey Mooney of Soldotna; sisters, Joyce Jones of Washington, Donnie Tieman of Oregon, Anita Miles of Washington, and Olan Porter of Oregon.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory.