William ‘Bill' Tracy Hampton

William &#8220Bill” Tracy Hampton, 50, died at his Big Lake cabin on Feb. 4, 2006, in the loving embrace of his family.

A celebration of life potluck will be held from 2-7 p.m. Saturday, at the family home on Eeyore Way at Settlers Bay. All who knew him are invited to attend.

Born to Ralph and Golden Hampton in Redwood City, Calif., on Aug. 5, 1955, Mr. Hampton became an Alaskan at age 3 when the family moved to Fairbanks in the summer of 1958.

The Hampton family left Fairbanks and spent nine months living in Anchorage and Eagle River before relocating to the Federal Aviation Administration complex at King Salmon in December 1966.

Mr. Hampton graduated from Bristol Bay High School in 1973 and then attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks before embarking on his 28-year career as an air traffic controller with the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center.

An avid aviation enthusiast, Mr. Hampton got his pilot's license at age 16 and later built a Homebuilt kit airplane. When he and his wife, Cheryl, began to develop their Settlers Bay property, Mr. Hampton's focus changed to heavy equipment. &#8220He loved big-boy toys,” his daughter, Kimberly, said. And his latest love was taking cruises in the Caribbean.

Mr. Hampton was a loving and devoted husband and father who actively supported his wife's leadership efforts and his children's participation in the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H.

Many will remember Mr. Hampton as a person who was always there and ready to help. &#8220He was a true old-fashioned Alaskan who would help anyone, the way people in Alaska used to,” his wife, Cheryl, said.

Survivors include Bill's wife, Cheryl; their daughter, Lisa; twins, Phillip and Denise; his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Brandon McNellis, and grandsons, Tyler and Ryan of Wasilla; sisters, Patricia Hampton of Priest River, Idaho, and Laura Chase of Wasilla, and his extended FAA family at the Anchorage ARTCC.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Mat-Su Regional Home Care and Hospice, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Wasilla, AK 99654.