Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Merton Fleming
Former Juneau resident Merton Fleming died after a brief illness in Los Angeles Cedars of Sinai Hospital on Dec. 15, 2007.
He was born in Juneau in 1943 to Merle and Reuel Fleming and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1961.
He served in the National Guard, during which time he was involved in the recovery from the Anchorage "Good Friday" earthquake. From the late 1960s on, he worked for Raytheon throughout the Middle East; spending the last several years in Cairo, Egypt.
He is survived by his wife, Ragia; and his sister, Ronde Fleming Winkler.
Ronde can be contacted at 13110 Seaview Lane, Apt. 245-G, Seal Beach, CA 90740.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Don Collinsworth
Juneau resident Don W. Collinsworth died Jan. 23, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his family. His illness was brief, and death came a short two weeks after being diagnosed with a prion disease. He was 66.
He was born Sept. 6, 1941, in Glendale, Calif., to Les and Marie Collinsworth. His parents moved to northern California when he was a young boy. He married Nancy Jewell, his high school sweetheart, in 1966. In 1976, they moved with their two young daughters to Juneau, where he went to work for the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.
Later, and during Gov. Jay Hammond's second term, he was appointed deputy commissioner of Fish and Game. He served as commissioner of Fish and Game under Gov. Sheffield and Gov. Cowper. Before he retired in 1997, he was the deputy regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau.
With a spirit that was larger than life itself, he always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye, his family said. The love he shared with his family and his ability to bring a smile to all those who knew him were unsurpassed.
According to his family, he was admired in the workplace for his unwavering leadership and dedication to making sound decisions. Away from the office, his time with family and friends was lived to the fullest, they said.
He enjoyed shooting his traditional bow at the archery range, hunting, camping, fishing and traveling. He and Nancy took several trips to South Africa and traveled the United States extensively. Over the years, they also spent a great deal of time at their cabin in Tenakee Springs, enjoying the Alaska outdoors with each other and their family.
He was preceded in death by his mother; and brother-in-law, Bill Patch.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Elsie, of California; wife, Nancy Collinsworth, of Juneau; daughters, Dawn Germain and her husband, Tom, of Juneau, and Kris Dorsey and her husband, Ryan, of Angoon; brothers, Rex Collinsworth and his wife, Jeanne, and Ken Collinsworth, of California; sister-in-law, Beverly Patch, of Tenakee Springs; grandchildren, Casey, Wendy and Johnathan Germain, and new grandbaby, Emma Dorsey; and many good friends and family members.
As he requested, the family has honored his wishes not to hold a formal memorial service. They will spread his ashes at his favorite hunting spot and will have a celebration of life this summer.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that remembrances in his name be made to the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center ("NPDPSC"), Case Western Reserve University, 2085 Aldebert Road, Room 419, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, or Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, 419 Sixth St., Juneau, AK 99801.
Virginia Atkins
Juneau resident Virginia M. Atkins died Jan. 19, 2008, at home after a brief illness. She was 80.
Born Jan. 2, 1928, in Oakland, Calif., she was a homemaker who enjoyed crocheting and crafting with family and friends. She was a Juneau resident since August 2003.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wight Atkins, of Williams, Ore.; parents, Frank and Claudina Martin; brother, Frank Martin; and sister, Maria Gomes.
She is survived by her daughter, Lorraine Martin and her husband, Bill, of Juneau; a brother, Manuel Martin, of Fresno, Calif.; grandchildren, Matthew Martin and his wife, Lori, of Lawrence, Kan., and Elizabeth Martin, of Castro Valley, Calif.; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Alaskan Memorial Park and Mortuary. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband's at a later date in White City, Ore.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ray Paddock Fund, 320 W. Willoughby Ave., Juneau AK 99801.
Cecilia Ann Wagoner
Juneau resident Cecilia Ann Wagoner died Dec. 30, 2007, following several months of ill health. She was 58.
She was born May 18, 1949. As one of a large family of eight children, she endeared herself to family and friends as a steadfast and loyal friend. She was a lover of beauty and nature and was very happy with her decision to relocate to Alaska in 1970, where she lived until shortly prior to her death. She will be remembered as a person of integrity and a soul absolutely loyal to her family and friends. She combined the independence and spirit of her favorite animals, cats and wolves.
She graduated from Blanchet High School in Seattle in 1967. In 1970, she chose to seek her fortune in Juneau, where she worked for the Veterans Administration and for the Alaska departments of Revenue and Fish and Game. She retired from Fish and Game in 2004. She attended the University of Alaska Southeast, working toward her accounting certification.
Her family appreciates the excellent care she received from Bartlett Regional Hospital, Valley Medical Care, Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, Airlift Northwest and Harborview and Northwest Hospitals in Seattle.
"Deep peace of the earth be with you, Cecilia," her sister said. "And rest for your valiant heart in the land of glaciers and wolves."
She was preceded in death by her father, Buster Wagoner; mother, Rosemary Wagoner; niece, Karen Hagevig; and brother-in-law, Bill Hagevig.
She is survived by her sisters, Rosemary Hagevig, Margaret Garrison and her husband, Dave, Catherine Nance, Helen Knox and her husband, Jim, Barbara Jones, and Dorothy Parsons and her husband, Jeff; and brother, John Wagoner and his wife, Cindy; friends she considered her family, Patricia and Jim Costa; 14 nieces and nephews; and 12 great-nieces and -nephews.
A celebration of her life was held Jan. 19 at St. Madeline Sophie Catholic Church in Seattle. A Juneau celebration of life will be scheduled in the near future.
For those wishing to make a memorial contribution in her name, the family suggests Juneau organizations, the Gastineau Humane Society, 7705 Glacier Highway, or Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, 419 Sixth St.
Schuyler J. Stevens
Juneau resident Schuyler J. Stevens died Feb. 6, 2008, following surgery in Phoenix, Ariz. He was 75.
He was born Oct. 12, 1932, in Frankfort, Ky., and moved to Juneau in 1964.
He was a civil engineer for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities until his retirement in 1983. He was in the Alaska National Guard and the Glacier Valley Fire Department and was a Shriner. He had a love for Alaska, fishing, golf, coaching Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Stevens.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marjorie Stevens; children, Mark Stevens, of Phoenix, David Stevens, of Juneau, and Linda Berg and her husband, Blaine, of Anchorage; and grandchildren, Shane Stevens and Rachel Stevens, of Phoenix.
Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.
