WAYNE SMITH

Wasilla resident Wayne Franklin Smith, 43, died Dec. 11, 2001, at home.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Valley Funeral Home, 151 E. Herning Avenue, in Wasilla. Mr. Smith's ashes will be scattered in Twin Lakes in Connecticut.

Mr. Smith was born July 12, 1958, in Charleston, S.C. He completed high school and worked as a carpenter. He came to Alaska in 1996, and had been employed by Bema Construction from August 2000 until his death.

His hobbies were fishing and gardening.

Family members said, "He touched and enlightened many lives and will be missed dearly."

Survivors are his partner, Dawn Gauntt of Wasilla; mother, Mildred Elizabeth Smith of Waterbury, Conn.; sisters, Faith Vicinanza of Newtown, Conn., and Dawn Tomberlin of Jacksonville, Fla.; nephews, Michael Arroyo of Waterbury, Conn., and Aaron Arroyo of Danbury, Conn.; and niece, Christina Arroyo of Newtown, Conn.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sierra Club.

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