Barbara Lee Barton

May 18, 1942 -

Jun 29, 2026

Barbara Lee Barton passed peacefully in her and daughter Kathleen McFarlin's home in Carson City, Nev. on June 29, 2026. Daughter, Cindy Koch, of Anchorage, Alaska, was also there for her passing. She will be terribly missed but her loved ones take comfort in knowing that she has gone to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Barbara was born May 18,1942 in her parents, Albert Lee and Lottie Mae Barton's home in Hansen, Idaho. Her mother, Lottie Mae died eight days later from complications related to the birth. Her father, Albert married DeLone Haslam who helped raise Barbara.

As a child, Barbara loved to fish with her family, helped in working on the farm in irrigation and caring for the animals. This created Barbara's love for fishing, animals and being outdoors in wide-open spaces. Barbara was very nurturing, caring, and kind to her sisters.

Barbara graduated from Gooding High School and in February of 1960 she married James McFarlin. James and Barbara relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in 1965 where they raised their three children, Kathleen, Cynthia, and James. Barbara later moved to Peter's Creek, Alaska in the 90's.

Barbara worked at Northwest Airlines and Carrs grocery store in Anchorage. Upon retiring from Carrs, Barbara began driving school bus for the Anchorage School District until again retiring 15 years later. Barbara took pride in working hard and loved all of the children on her bus routes.

In Alaska, Barbara's love for family, friends, animals and the outdoors continued throughout her life. She was well known in the animal rescue community. Barbara became a member of Bible Baptist Church in Chugiak where Pastor Tim baptized her. Barbara formed a deep and lasting friendship with Pastor Tim, his wife DeEtta and the members of this community.

After suffering from multiple strokes in 2016, Barbara primarily lived with and was cared for by her daughter, Kathleen in Carson City, Nev. Barbara alternately traveled to Alaska and lived with her daughter, Cindy and husband, Dave to spend time with family and friends.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Kay, Joy, Cindy; and her grandson, Charles Neal. Barbara is survived by her sisters, Vonnie, Cheri and Tracie; daughters, Kathleen McFarlin and Cynthia Koch; as well as her son, James McFarlin; and her grandchildren, Sabrina McFarlin, Jennifer Neal, Sharla Rydalch (Neal), Calen Neal, Daniel Portlock, Jessica Maloney (Portlock), and Rebecca Bond (Portlock); as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on October 3, 2026, 2:00pm at Bible Baptist Church, 19535 Old Glenn Hwy, Chugiak, Alaska. All are invited to attend.

Delia Brown

Oct 8, 1950 -

Sep 17, 2026

Delia Brown, 75, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away peacefully on Sept. 17, 2026.

Born on Oct. 8, 1950, in Tempe, Ariz., Delia moved to Alaska in 1983. She dedicated 38 years as a beloved Administrative Assistant with ConocoPhillips Alaska, where her devoted spirit and dependable nature made her a pillar of her workplace. Delia was known for her kind spirit, resilience and love for trying new things with friends, including painting, sewing, theater, fishing, travel, Toastmasters and hitting the course with the Wacky Women Golf Association.

Delia is survived and deeply missed by her family, including her loving son, Stuart, and four dear brothers, Gil, Arthur, Daniel and Joe. She was preceded in death by her son, John; and brother, Rudy.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street in Anchorage. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Diabetes Action or Alaska Junior Theater.

Carla Garrod

Jun 3, 1955 -

Sep 20, 2026

Carla Jean Garrod, 71, passed away on Sept. 20, 2026. Born on June 3, 1955 in Anchorage, Alaska, Carla spent most of her life in the state she called home. In recent years she lived in Arizona near her son.

Carla was a 1973 graduate of Dimond High School, where she was a dedicated and highly competitive athlete: Volleyball during high school and an avid softball player afterward for many years. Her competitive spirit and love of sports remained an important part of who she was.

Carla had a special appreciation for Alaska's wilderness. She spent many summers at a remote cabin, where she enjoyed observing and photographing bears. She loved sharing pictures and her experiences with family and friends.

Above all, Carla will be remembered for her generous heart and willingness to help family and friends whenever they needed her. She was someone who could be counted on. Her kindness and thoughtfulness left a lasting impression on those who knew her.

Carla is survived by her son, Travis Garrod; longtime friend, Ed Hardon; and sisters, Gayle Rus (Jon), Joan Thor (Kurt) and Laurie Miller (Chris). She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Betty Libbey; sisters, Terri Carle, Mary Kaye Dunagan and Jean Libbey; brother, John Libbey; and nephew, Brian Carle.

She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her and remembered for the generosity, friendship and care she shared throughout life.

A celebration life will be held on Oct. 2, 2026, from 4:30-7 p.m., at Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. 541 W. Dimond Boulevard in Anchorage. Family and friends are invited to gather in Carla's memory, enjoy a meal, share stories and friendships that were such an important part of her life.

Sophie Gutierrez

Sep 16, 1938 -

Sep 20, 2026

Sophie Gutierrez passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2026, with her daughter, Kaylene by her side. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska on Sept. 16, 1938, to John and Olga Ondola, and lived in Birchwood as a child. When she was 4 years old, she, her sister, Elsie, and her brother, Carl, were taken to Seward to be treated for tuberculosis. From there they were sent to Wrangell and finally Sitka. She did not return to Birchwood until she was 12 years old. She felt like a stranger, and did not know her language or her family. She graduated from Anchorage High School in 1957 and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She married Frank Wirth and they had two daughters, Kristen and Kaylene. They divorced in 1968.

She worked for the UAF Post Office and as a Legal Secretary for Alaska Legal Services. She also worked for the Alaska Headstart Program, DNH Development Corporation, The Tundra Times, and the United Methodist Church. She was a Native Village of Eklutna Tribal Member.

In 1974, our family increased by one when she married Gilbert Gutierrez, and we started a lifetime of adventure. They lived in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Chevak, Akiachak, Juneau, Nome, Valdez, and Glenallen. In 2008 she and Gil moved to Bend, Oregon to be closer to Kaylene. In 2018 they moved to Gil's home town, Albuquerque, NM.

She was smart, charming, witty, stylish, and beautiful. The happiest moments in her life were the times spent with family and friends at barbecues, special events, and traveling with Gil and their dog Chico in their RV "Chico's lil house". Sophie and Gil loved their children and grandchildren and went out of their way to make birthdays and holidays special. She always put her family first and did her best to make their lives happier and feel loved.

Her hobbies included gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, reading, taking care of her beloved puppy dogs, and keeping in touch with family and friends on Facebook. She loved to play Scrabble and was hard to beat.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gilbert Gutierrez; sisters, Dorothy Cook and Gina Ondola; brother and spouse, Jerry and Connie Ondola; daughter and son in-law, Kaylene and Daniel Larwin; grandchildren, Lewis and Eric Kirk, and Luke, Lindsey, and Cody Larwin; great grandchildren, Willow, Vanellope, Eric, Saeran, Lexi, Leif, Clay, Max, Inga, and Barrett; and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristen Kirk; brothers, George, Carl, and Roy; and sisters, Ellen, Elsie, Marie, and Sally.

Services to be held at a later date in Anchorage, Alaska.

Shirley Ann Igou

Feb 24, 1944 -

Aug 28, 2026

Shirley Ann Igou of Heber Springs, Ark., passed away on Aug. 28, 2026, at 2:51 a.m, surrounded by loving family.

She had lived a grand life but her body was weak and tired.

As the lunar eclipse subsided that night, so she passed peacefully into the arms of God.

She was attended by her sister, Pat; grandniece, Conicia McCloud; and great-grandnephew, LaKoda Dison.

Shirley Ann was born on Feb. 24, 1944, near Osceola, Ark. Her family moved to Indiana, settling in New Trenton, where she attended Whitewater School. They later returned to Arkansas, where Shirley graduated class 1963 of at Bald Knob High School.

After high school she moved to Memphis, Tenn. In 1964, she married Com Leonard Dunning, who had served as a submarine mechanic in WWII. In 1967, they moved to Alaska with their daughter Alida. After they divorced, Shirley remained in Alaska.

She spent eight years with Bob Naanes, proprietor of Remodeling Enterprises. They enjoyed many hobbies and adventures together: prospecting, gold panning and assaying, epee fencing, camping, guitar and more. They traveled to Southern California from 1972-1974, crossing the Alcan Highway in January both ways, long before it was paved. In California, they lived in San Diego, Costa Mesa, the shore of Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach. They enjoyed extended camping trips into the Mojave Desert, sometimes two weeks at a time. There, they spent the days riding dirt bikes and prospecting, with Shirley's daughter riding on the back of her Hodaka 125 Wombat, holding her pet chihuahua.

In 1978, she married Charles Igou, president of Hayden Electric Motors in Anchorage, Alaska.

"Chuck and Annie" enjoyed camping, fishing, travel, scuba diving and spending Novembers at their Shores of Maui condo.

During Ann's 30 years in Alaska, she wore many hats and mastered many skills. In her early days, she was a waitress at Leroy's and La Mexicana. She was an Avon Lady. She had a green thumb and started a business called "The Plant Lady," setting up and maintaining plants in offices. She learned sheet metal cutting and bending while a secretary at Ingersoll Sheetmetal. She was in charge of rebuilding injectors at Emerson GM Diesel. Shirley Ann had been very disappointed that girls were not allowed to take shop class when she was in high school. She made up for that as an adult, never afraid to break the mold of what women were "supposed" to do.

Ann loved travel and road trips, and often said she would have loved to be a truck driver.

She worked as a service attendant on the Alaska Railroad, and flew across Alaska to backhaul U-Haul trucks. She worked in the MarkAir kitchens, which gave her flight benefits.

Ann owned and operated The Gingham House, a gift shop in an original Anchorage townsite house on the corner of 6th Avenue and K Street. Each room was a little shop of its own, plus a workshop in the basement. Handmade Christmas ornaments in the foyer, antiquarian book store, antiques, Native Alaskan crafts, curios, toys and potpourri, and always free cookies and Russian tea.

Ann was also skilled at sewing, needlework, oil painting, interior decorating and an accomplished stained glass artist.

Ann returned to Arkansas in 1997 to care for her mother and father.

After Chuck passed away, Ann made a life for herself in Heber Springs, renovating and renting homes, in partnership with Bill Compton. She helped many people rent to own.

She even moved an entire three bedroom, two bathroom house with a garage, to make way for the Heber Springs Water utility, paying almost nothing for the house.

Bill and Ann spent 24 blissful years together, fishing, traveling, playing music and enjoying a merry, bountiful life until Bill's peaceful passing in 2022.

Ann was admired for her sharp wit, practical knowledge, good values and uncommon wisdom.

With a creative and brilliant mind, she was a clean-living and trustworthy person.

Gentle-natured and strong willed, she followed her intuition and imagination, and used her inventive mind to do things others might say was not possible.

She believed in thinking outside the box. One of her rules of thumb was "If you can't think of three choices, you're not thinking hard enough."

She was a fun but firm mother, expecting good character and showing loving kindness. She created a rich and empowering home life.

She was generous and caring, helping everyone around her however she was able, with trust, encouragement and especially sound advice. Wherever she lived, she always made time to visit nursing homes and look after elders and friends.

In her later days, she reminded us often to "enjoy your youth while you have it."

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ruth and Tennis Dison; and partner, Bill Compton.

She is survived by her brothers, Tennis David Dison and Ernest Jack Dison; sister, Carolyn Ruth "Pat" Kraus; daughter, Alida Grace Dunning; grandchildren, Mitchell Stelling and Maia West of Homer, Alaska; great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Maylee Ann; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Revival Chapel, 5129 Depot Road in West Harrison, Ind., followed by the spreading of her ashes at her parent's grave at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 4160 IN-252 in Cedar Grove, Ind.

A celebration of Ann's life and potluck picnic will be held at Spring Park in Heber Springs on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, from 1-5 p.m.

John Michael "Mike" Jackson

Feb 16, 1941 -

Jul 4, 2026

John Michael "Mike" Jackson of Cordova, Alaska, passed away of natural causes on July 4, 2026, in Alamos, Mexico. He was born on Feb. 16, 1941, in Sacramento, Calif., to Royle and Thomas Walter Jackson, DVM.

He grew up a free spirited adventurer: pheasant hunting, fishing and swimming in the Sacramento River, hopping trains to travel up into the Sierra Mountains and camping at remote lakes. He attended McClatchy High but graduated from Sacramento High. In his late teens and early 20s he was hired by family friend "Doc" Sanders, to attend cattle and horses being shipped on ocean voyages to Hawaii and the Philippines, experiences which instilled his love of travel abroad.

He left a job with Game and Fish in California in 1970 to seek an Alaskan wilderness adventure. He traveled north with three friends, including a New York artist who also loved the wilderness and eventually became his wife. On that summer's adventure, he found his career as a fisheries technician for Alaska Department of Fish and Game and his home in Cordova.

Mike was passionate about the importance of working in the field, which he felt was vital to sound fishery management. Seasonally, he walked 100 streams twice each summer in Prince William Sound counting returning salmon, and their fry and eggs in fall and spring. After retiring from the state, he developed his own business, Eyak Outlet, rebuilding impellers for the local fishing fleet.

Mike was married to Joan Bugbee on the summer solstice 1973 in Cordova. Their daughter, Brook Bond Jackson, was born in 1976. Together they built their own home and workshop on the shores of Eyak Lake. He was a loyal friend to all he knew and worked with both in Cordova and later in Alamos, where he and Joan made their seasonal home.

Those who knew Mike will remember him for his imagination, sense of adventure, love of a good story and unique characters and character names. He loved hunting, fishing, flying, each of his successive black Labrador retrievers, a morning hot tub with a cup of coffee overlooking Eyak Lake, a refreshing drink of fizzy water and perfecting his smoked salmon.

Mike is survived by his spouse, Joan Bugbee Jackson; daughter, Brook and son-in-law Craig Pester; and three grandchildren, Korbin, Owen and Claire Pester. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Pete Jackson.

A Celebration of Mike will be held on Oct. 10, 2026, at 4-7 p.m., at the Pioneer's Lodge, Pioneer Igloo Hall #19, 621 1st Street in Cordova. A pig will be roasted. Guests are asked to bring side dishes and desserts. All who knew Mike are welcome to come and share memories of him. The family also requests people contribute stories and/photos to the memorial website https://www.online-tribute.com/Mike-Jackson.

Martin Edward Miller

Aug 24, 1945 -

Sep 13, 2026

Martin "Marty" Miller, age 81, passed away in Anchorage, Alaska. He was born in Butte, Mont., to Martin and Doris Miller and attended Anaconda High School where in 1963, he met his wife Lorena "Renie." They were married in Helena, Mont., in October 1967.

From 1963 to 1983, Marty proudly served in the U.S. Army where he rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant. He served in places as far-flung as Vietnam, Germany, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, Missouri, Hawaii, and Alaska. He earned a Bronze Star during his third tour of Vietnam. In 1979, he also earned The Solder's Medal from saving a drowning man who had fallen through the ice. After leaving the Army, he was a Vice-President for Special Credits with the First National Bank of Alaska from 1983-2005.

Marty served the VFW organization for over two decades, Eagle River Post 9785 Post Commander from 1989-1990; Alaska State and All American State commander from 2004-2005; National Chairman of the Western Conference from 2009-2010; and he held various State and National VFW appointments.

Marty was a talented drummer from an early age. He played drums for many artists, including George Strait, Dolly Parton and Charlie Pride. He was also an avid snowmachiner. His best days were lounging on his pontoon boat at his cabin in Big Lake and supporting the Seattle Seahawks. He also enjoyed a Coors Light on the banks of any river or lake surrounded by family and friends.

Marty leaves behind his wife, Lorena "Renie" Miller; children, Tod (Tricia) Miller, Stacie Miller, Brett Miller Sister Tina Maedche; brother-in-law, Larry Fautch; sister-in-law, Marilyn Fautch; and grandchildren, Kylee Miller, Kynsey Miller, Brielle Waldher, Bridjett Miller. Britta Joy, Morgan Ihrig and Dakota Ihrig. He is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Doris Miller.

Marty was laid to rest during a private ceremony at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Carolyn S. Riggan

Feb 7, 1947 -

Jul 27, 2026

Carolyn S. Riggan was born on Feb. 7, 1947, in Shreveport, La., to Harlin and Dorothy McDowell. In 1957, at the age of 10, Carolyn and her family moved to Alaska, where she would make her home and build a life filled with family, friendships and service to her community.

Carolyn graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1967. Shortly after graduating, she began her career with the City of Anchorage. She devoted her entire professional career to the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, where she served for more than 40 years. During her distinguished career, Carolyn worked in the General Manager's Office, Engineering, and the Information Technology Department, to mention a few. Her dedication and years of service made her a valued member of the organization.

In 1967, Carolyn married Jerry S. Riggan. Together they raised two children: Kevin S. Riggan and Melissa R. Russell.

Carolyn passed away on July 27, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harlin and Dorothy McDowell; beloved husband, Jerry; brother, Marty McDowell; and nephew, Shane Ruggles.

She is survived by her son, Kevin S. Riggan; daughter, Melissa R. Russell and husband Dan; grandson, Zachary Russell; sister, Virginia Ruggles and husband John; and nieces, Jennifer Ruggles and Jourdyn Achenbach.

Carolyn will be remembered for the life she built in Alaska, her more than four decades of dedicated service to the Anchorage community and, most importantly, her love and devotion to her family. Her memory will remain a lasting part of the lives of all who knew and loved her.