William “Bill” Henry Devon

Lifelong and Pioneer Alaskan William (Bill) Henry Devon, 80, died July 1, 2008 at his home in Trapper Creek of natural causes.

Born in Fairbanks in 1927, Devon was raised in Douglas and graduated from Douglas High School in 1945. He joined the U.S. Navy directly out of high school and served his country at the end of World War II.

Devon returned to Douglas after his military service where he met his beloved wife of 55 years, Zona (Pinkerton) Devon. Together they moved to Fairbanks in 1948, where their four children were born. They moved to Anderson in 1960, where he worked on the construction of Clear Air Force Base, later working at Clear as superintendent of the power station.

The first family in Anderson, he was instrumental in the establishment of the city of Anderson. He was Anderson’s first mayor and active in all civic and community affairs, including the Lion’s Club, a practice he continued in every community he lived. In 1971 he moved with his family to Trapper Creek, where he was a hard-working business owner until the day he died.

An avid pilot, hunter, and outdoorsman, he was at home more in the woods than in the city, his family wrote. He passed that passion and knowledge to his children, grandchildren and many friends. His ashes will be spread over the hunting grounds he loved so well.

He loved to travel, and spent his later years traveling the world with his wife. They enjoyed meeting new people wherever they went and Devon was never one to miss a chance to talk to a stranger. They spent the last few winters in their home in Arizona. His heart was and will forever remain true to his birthplace of Alaska, his family wrote.

Devon placed family above all else, and was admired and inspired by all of his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Zona; brother James Devon; children Kurt Devon, Janeece and Charles Higgins, Ronald and Jeanne Devon and Samuel and Corinne Devon; 14 grandchildren: Joseph and Chelsea Higgins, Kurtis Devon, Byron Devon, Benjamin Higgins, Brady Devon, Rory Devon, Kelly Devon, Ashley Devon, Shelby Devon, Chelsy Devon, Alexandra Devon, Mariah-Jade Devon and Lucas Devon, all of Alaska.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks any memorials be forwarded to the Talkeetna V.F.W. Post 3836, Talkeetna, AK, 99676.