Julie Beth Baylor

Jul 22, 1965 -

May 30, 2026

Julie Beth (Butt) Baylor, born on July 22, 1965, in Anchorage, Alaska, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2026, at the age of 60, at Providence Hospital Anchorage surrounded by her family.

Julie, daughter of Jack and Barbara (Winter) Butt grew up with five sisters on the east side of Anchorage. She attended Anchorage Christian School and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. She worked in the family business, Senco Alaska Inc., Volunteers of America, the Anchorage School District and was a caregiver for many years. She volunteered at many community organizations serving the most vulnerable where her warmth and dedication shined through.

Julie's faith was a source of strength, and she instilled this belief in everyone around her until her last breath. Her greatest talent was her boundless capacity to love others. She had an extraordinary ability to turn strangers into friends and made everyone feel valued. Her thoughtful gestures made others feel cherished.

Julie's greatest joy came from her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter, Boisie Baylor; son, Brady (Anna) Baylor; and granddaughters, Adelyn, Braelynn and Caelynn Baylor. She also leaves behind her mother, Barbara Butt; sisters, Jane (Clay) Dial, Lori (Doug) Palmer-Aldred, Teri (Ronnie) Gunter, Jackie (Steve) Glatt and Jody (Ben) Olsen; and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly. She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Butt.

Julie was loved by all who knew her, but none more than her family. Though she leaves a profound void in our hearts, we find peace in knowing she is with our Lord and Savior. A service will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Baxter Road Bible Church in Anchorage, from 12-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Downtown Soup Kitchen Hope Center or Baxter Road Bible Church.

James Chase

Feb 7, 1933 -

May 29, 2026

James "Jim" Henry Chase passed away peacefully amongst family members on May 29, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. He was 93 years old.

Jim was born on Feb. 7, 1933, in Baltimore, Md., to James (Carr) Chase and Edith Loray Williams. He grew up in Baltimore and was raised by his great-uncle and great-aunt, Wittfield S. and Annie K. Bolden.

After high school, Jim attended Morgan State College. Not only was he president of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, but he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, graduated with honors, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Jim's military career began as a pilot, flying KC-97 refueler planes. Jim's first tour of duty in Alaska was on the Bering Sea Coast in 1968. After 20 years of service, Jim retired from active duty in 1974 as a major and made Anchorage his permanent home.

As a civilian, Jim became Director of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission; he was an administrator at the University of Alaska, Anchorage; he served as Deputy Commissioner for the State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and he held a number of other positions that led to positive changes in the lives of others.

In his early years in Alaska, Jim was known as an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, camping and boating. Jim and his wife, Yvonne, were dedicated members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for more than 40 years. Jim held several leadership offices in the Whittier Flotilla, from Whittier Flotilla Commander to Commodore.

Jim was a member of the Anchorage Concert Chorus for almost 45 years. He was a bass, and he loved his classical music. Jim was also an avid dog lover, and he and Yvonne, his wife of 42 years, had many furry additions to their family.

Jim is survived by his wife, Yvonne; sister, Charlotte Lann; son Tony (Rasheedah); daughters, Donna and Joyce; daughter-in-law, Cecilia; grandsons, Jackson (Jessica) and Kalantae; nephews, Adam (Angelina), Stephen (Mollie), Ian (Jessica) and Mason (Tiffany); two great-granddaughters, (Lily, Ellie); and special dog, Rocky. Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Williams.

Jo Ann "Jodie" M. Clarke

Oct 14, 1942 -

Mar 4, 2026

Jodie passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026, in Anchorage, surrounded by her daughter, Jennifer Clarke; granddaughter, Sloan Pettyjohn; and friend, Lani Jensen. Jodie was 83.

Born on Oct. 14, 1942, in Dayton, Ky., to Frederick and Vivian Sloan, Jodie moved to Alaska with her family as a young girl. She grew up in Sitka and Juneau, and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High in 1960. After graduation, she attended Griffin-Murphy Business College in Seattle before returning to Juneau.

Jodie married Ted Vadman in 1963. Following their divorce in 1967, she married Larry Clarke in 1968. Together they relocated to Anchorage, where Jodie would spend the next four decades building a family and helping shape Alaska's banking, mortgage and title industries.

A respected leader, Jodie began her career in banking. Jodie rose through the ranks from loan servicing to VP in construction at NBA and FNBA. She later opened and managed Alaska operations for MGIC, held executive leadership roles with Land and TransAlaska Title, worked in loan origination with Premier & Residential Mortgage, then concluded her career as Head of Alaska Operations for Arctic Mortgage Insurance, before retiring in 2008.

Jodie was also a Charter Member in Anchorage of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (1975-2008) and served in numerous leadership roles at the local, regional and national levels, including President, Regional Governor and National Recording Secretary.

Business aside, Jodie's greatest gift was bringing people together. She was a natural connector, mentor and friend. Her legendary Libra parties, Christmas cookie exchanges, Cinco de Mayo gatherings at the lake and open-door holiday celebrations welcomed friends, family, colleagues and newcomers alike. She had quick wit, a terrible golf swing, generous spirit and a remarkable ability to make everyone feel included.

Diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 2000, Jodie faced the disease with resilience, grace and humor. Following retirement, she volunteered with the Alzheimer's Association, remained an advocate for others living with MS and cherished time with family and friends.

Jodie is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Clarke of Austin, Texas; granddaughter, Sloan Pettyjohn, Austin; sister, Janet O'Malley; nieces, Liesl Bland, Stella Keller, Kaitlin McLaughlin; cousins, Lorraine Davis, Patsy Sanders; best friends, Lani Jensen, Kay Murphy; other extended family members and friends, whose lives she forever touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A celebration of Jodie's life will be held at a later date.

Calvin Lee "Cal" Datta

Jan 22, 1940 -

Nov 30, 2025

Calvin Lee Datta, "Cal," went to his heavenly home on Nov. 30, 2025, in Paducah, Ky. Cal was born and raised in Montana. In 1958, he joined the Navy and served for four years. Cal met and married the love of his life, Doris Saeman, in 1962.

In 1970, Cal, Doris and Cal's sister Audre moved to Anchorage, Alaska. In 1971, Cal and Doris moved to Kenny Lake in the Copper River Basin. They bought 80 acres and worked on the Alaska pipeline project. In November 1979, Cal's life took a dramatic change when he repented and surrendered his life to our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1983, Cal started working for the State of Alaska DOT and retired in 2002.

After 51 years in Alaska, Cal moved to Paducah.

Calvin impacted the lives of everyone who knew him. He was very loving, generous, creative and wise, and had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with family, fishing and golfing.

Calvin loved God and was diligent in letting others know how much his life changed when he repented and Jesus graciously forgave him. He loved to share the good word of God's love and the gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

He will be missed by family and friends all over the country.

Preceded in death by his wife, Doris; son, Michael Datta; parents, John and Ethel Datta; sisters, Audre and Kitty; and brothers-in-law, Eugene Yonkin and Don Westbury.

Survived by his son, John Datta (Meghan) of Pennsylvania; daughters, Jennifer Oliver (Allen) of Kentucky, and Carrie Smith (Chad) of Alaska; sister, Gail Hoehn (Bill) of Washington; grandchildren, Jessica and Nicole Datta of Pennsylvania, Kay Smith of Virginia, and Riley and Sadie Smith of Alaska.

Services are to be held at Kenny Lake Chapel on June 27, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Leillia Catherine Doogan

Sep 2, 1939 -

May 11, 2026

Leillia Catherine Doogan (nee Burnett), lovingly known as Catherine, Cathy, Mom, "Mumzy" and "Aunt Tootsie," passed away leaving a legacy of resilience, generosity and unwavering devotion to her family. She was born on Sept. 2, 1939, in Ketchikan, Alaska, to Sigrid and Richard "Macaroni" Burnett, and spent her early years in Alaska before moving to Palmer.

At just 17, Cathy married John Hogins III, beginning a life centered on family and adventure. They welcomed John IV and Linda before embarking, in 1962, on a remarkable journey to Iran as part of a diplomatic assignment. While abroad, Cathy—known as Tootsie—served as a Red Cross "Gray Lady," offering care and comfort to those in need. She also modeled for the Shah of Iran, an experience she proudly remembered. The family returned to Juneau, Alaska, in 1964, where their son Jim was born.

After John's passing in 1969, Cathy demonstrated incredible strength raising her children. She later married Frank Doogan, and although their time together was cut short, she continued to build a life full of love. She eventually settled in Anchorage and Palmer, where she raised Arabian horses and enjoyed fishing, boating and gardening.

Cathy was a devoted mother and grandmother whose home and heart were always open. Her son John (Butch) shared, "My little mom, I love her very much." She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Michael William Gordon

Apr 3, 2026

Michael William Gordon, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, died unexpectedly on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, at the Kolkata Airport after a holiday in India with his wife of 42 years, Shelli (Shannon) Gordon. In his 83 years, Mike built a remarkable life of entrepreneurship, education, public service, adventure and a deep and enduring love for Alaska.

In 1953, Mike arrived in Alaska from Mississippi, docking in Seward aboard the USS Funston one day after the eruption of Mount Spur. Not yet a state, and dominated by wilderness, Alaska was the perfect place for an adventurous and enterprising young man, and Mike quickly came to love his new home and make lifelong friends. He was an ardent Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13. Scouting was and is a family tradition. Mike's father and four living grandsons are also Eagle Scouts.

Mike graduated in 1960 from Anchorage High School, where he participated in band and choir and played varsity hockey. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he played hockey and joined ROTC, becoming a member of the Pershing Rifles. Mike transferred to the University of San Francisco for his sophomore year, where he met and married his first wife, Reidun (Olsen) Paxton, the mother of his children. After a brief 47-year interruption, Mike returned to USF and, in 2011, completed his B.A. in politics with a minor in philosophy. He earned an M.A. in writing at Alaska Pacific University in 2014.

Mike began his entrepreneurial journey on his bicycle delivering newspapers around Anchorage, shining shoes for soldiers at Elmendorf AFB and sweeping floors at McKay Hardware. He went on to work for a moving company, then as a delivery driver for a liquor wholesaler in Anchorage during summer breaks from college. In California, he worked for the Gillette Company, Hallmark Cards and the Hooper Holmes Bureau before joining the New York Life Insurance Company, becoming the youngest agent in the nation to achieve their Star Club rating. Mike, with his young family, returned to Anchorage after the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, still working as a New York Life Insurance agent, and in 1967 purchased the Bird House Bar with high school friends Norman Rokeberg and Johnny Tegstrom. After selling the Bird House a year later, Mike was determined to open an Alaska-themed bar in Anchorage. While Juneau had the Red Dog Saloon, Ester the Malamute Saloon and Homer the Salty Dog, Anchorage was missing an Alaska inspired nightclub.

Training as a radio broadcaster at KHAR, Mike met and began a longtime friendship with Ruben Gaines, great Alaska radio personality, storyteller and Alaska Poet Laureate. Ruben granted permission to use the rustic sourdough reprobate of his Alaska tall tales as the inspiration and logo for Mike's next business venture. On Jan. 1, 1970, at age 27, Mike opened what would become Anchorage's legendary Chilkoot Charlie's nightclub. For 45 years, Mike owned and operated the iconic bar, a gathering place that became woven into the fabric and culture of Alaska life. Under his leadership, "Koot's" grew into the largest independent bar and nightclub on the West Coast and became nationally known as one of the best bars in America. In 2015, he proudly sold the business to his employees, ensuring its legacy would continue for generations to come.

Dedicated to public service, Mike was twice elected to the Anchorage City Council in the early 1970s before municipal unification, simultaneously serving on the Anchorage Borough Assembly. He was the last surviving member of Anchorage's original City Council before unification. He also served two terms as Chairman of the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, first appointed by Governor Cowper and later by Governor Murkowski. Mike maintained perfect attendance for 22 years as a member of Rotary International and served a term as President of the Anchorage Downtown Rotary Club. He contributed as a board and committee member, a donor and fundraiser for many other organizations including the Boys and Girls Club, Alaska Mental Health Association, Anchorage Opera and Holy Rosary Academy.

Mike embraced life with enthusiasm and determination. He held licenses as a private investigator, life insurance producer, radio operator, real estate salesperson, open water diver and small plane pilot. An accomplished athlete and mountaineer, he completed 15 marathons and climbed the highest mountain on six of the seven continents. His most ambitious challenge was Mount Everest, where he reached an elevation of 27,500 feet on his third attempt at the age of 50. In addition to Rotary International, Mike was a member of Pioneers of Alaska, National Eagle Scout Association, Chaine des Rotisseurs and The Explorers Club.

While Anchorage was where Mike built much of his career, Halibut Cove held a special place in his heart. Since 1980, he and Shelli spent extended periods of time and most of their summers there, building deep friendships and becoming part of the unique community. After Mike retired in 2015, he and Shelli and Jacques, their standard poodle, lived full-time in Halibut Cove, comprising about 10 percent of the year-round population. Surrounded by the mountains and overlooking the waters of Kachemak Bay, Mike found joy in the simple moments and treasured the people who shared that special place. His passion for storytelling soon led him to become an author, sharing his wisdom, experiences and perspectives, along with more than a few crazy stories, gained through a life lived to its fullest. His books, "Learning the Ropes," "DAGNABIT!" and "Naked Alaskan" form the trilogy of his memoirs.

After his diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in August 2023, added to kidney disease and an incurable lung infection, doctors did not predict Mike would return to his normal life. Always an overachiever, he proved them wrong by returning to Halibut Cove and embarking on a new adventure of travel with his wife. They began with Christmas and New Year's in Honolulu, Hawaii. They followed with an Explorers Club annual gala in New York City; cruises on the Mediterranean, South Pacific and Caribbean; and trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas, Nev., Seattle, Wash., and New Mexico, where they visited family. Their last journey together was to India, where Mike had longed to share the Taj Mahal with Shelli, and where she ultimately left a portion of his ashes.

Mike will be remembered for his larger-than-life personality, generous spirit, adventurous nature, sharp intellect and devotion to the people and places he loved. Whether welcoming friends at Chilkoot Charlie's, serving his community, climbing mountains, writing stories or sharing a quiet life in Halibut Cove, Mike left an enduring mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him. His legacy lives on in the mountains he climbed, the stories he told, the communities he helped build and the countless lives he touched along the way. His was a life fully lived with friendship, curiosity, determination and love. Mike will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Mike was predeceased by his parents, Harry Stewart "Whitey" Gordon and Ruth Isabell (Boisch) Gordon; eldest grandson, Eric Alexander Scull; and nephew, Curt Zachary Norwood. He is survived by his wife, Shelli; daughter, Michele Ritter (Jerry); son, Michael Gordon; grandchildren, Courtney Dunford (Aaron), Jared Ritter, Jacob Ritter (Ryleigh), Benjamin Ritter (Nykole), Joseph Ritter and Lily Elbe (Jeremy); seven great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia Ryan (Mark); niece, Teri Shumake (Leslie); and many other much loved family and friends. Mike was immensely proud of his family and found great joy in watching it grow across generations.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Chilkoot Charlie's in Anchorage. Later in summer 2026, Mike's family will bury his ashes in the Halibut Cove cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Holy Rosary Academy, 1010 West Fireweed Lane in Anchorage.

Beverlee J. Hubbard

Feb 1, 1931 -

Apr 17, 2026

Beverlee Jean Hubbard, long time Alaska resident, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, in Powell Butte, Ore. She was 95 years old, and died of complications from dementia. Beverlee married her husband of 50 years, William "Bill" Hubbard of Los Angeles, Calif., on July 21, 1951. Bill passed away in October 2001. Beverlee is survived by her three children, sons Thomas and Philip Hubbard and daughter Jena Turner, as well as a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild

Beverlee was born on Feb. 1, 1931, in Longview, Wash. She was the only daughter of John H. Copeland and Edna M. McCutcheon. She is survived by three half-siblings, John H. Copeland Jr., Jan Kepler and Sally Wilson.

In her early adulthood, Beverlee was a glove and hat model in Los Angeles. After she met and married Bill, Beverlee moved to Hoquiam, Wash., where they started a family and children's Sunday school program. The family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1967, and in 1968 Beverlee began working for the Anchorage School District as cafeteria staff, where she eventually rose to cafeteria manager.

After Beverlee and Bill retired, they moved to Big Lake, Alaska. Throughout their lives, Bill and Beverlee dedicated themselves to serving the Lord, leading to the planting of Faith Bible Fellowship Church in Big Lake.

After Bill passed away, Beverlee moved to Sterling, Alaska, to be near her son Thomas and his family. She lived happily on the peninsula for many years, watching her grandchildren grow and participating at Sterling Baptist Church. In 2021, Beverlee moved to Oregon to live with her daughter Jena and her family, where she eventually passed away at home.

A service will be held for Beverlee at Sterling Baptist Church in Sterling, on Aug. 22, 2026, at 2 p.m. More details at everloved.com.

Karen Jacklin

Apr 14, 1942 -

Feb 16, 2026

Karen Jane (Mech) Jacklin, 83, longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident, passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2026, in Kingwood, Texas, with family from both Texas and Alaska by her side.

Born in 1942 to Charles and Emma Mech, Karen was raised in Downers Grove, Ill. In 1962, she married Lloyd M. Jacklin, and together they embarked on a 58-year adventure when they drove the Alcan Highway to begin their life in Anchorage. Karen quickly embraced Alaska's hospitable spirit and spent six decades enjoying its beauty, residents and wilderness.

Karen was known for her warmth, quick wit and genuine interest in others. She had a special gift for making people feel welcome and valued.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Coberly and husband Grady of Texas; son, Michael Jacklin; granddaughter, Lisa Jacklin-Wyatt and husband Jacob; along with many extended family members and dear friends. Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd M. Jacklin; and sister, Joanne L. Pearson.

Karen chose cremation, and no formal service will be held. Her memory will live on in those who knew and loved her, through stories shared, the laughter remembered and the countless lives she touched through her faith, encouragement and love.

Karen Lee Morris

Jun 2, 1949 -

May 16, 2026

Karen Lee Morris of Nikiski, Alaska, passed away on May 16, 2026, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, due to complications of pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family. Karen was born to John and Anna Christenson in Anchorage on June 2, 1949. She married her high school sweetheart, Curt Morris, in August 1966. They were married until his death in 2006. She graduated from West High School in Anchorage in 1967. She lived in Anchorage until 1971, then she moved with her husband and two children to Glenallen, Alaska, and lived there until 1977. They moved to Nikiski, where she resided until her death. She helped manage a small store and gas station in Glenallen. She helped operate M & M Supermarkets Inc. with her husband from 1977 to 1983. She worked at the Nikiski Post Office, National Bank of Alaska, Unocal Fertilizer plant in Nikiski and then at M & M Market in 1996, after she and her husband took the business back in 1993. After her daughter and son-in-law bought the business in 2003, she continued to work there part-time until her death. She was the historian for the Kenai Igloo of The Pioneers of Alaska. She enjoyed backcountry horseback riding with her husband in Glenallen. She was an avid bowler in her younger days in Anchorage at Center Bowl, and later bowled in a league in Kenai. Every summer for many years she loved going to the family cabin at Paxon Lake that her father built in the 1950s. She enjoyed cross-country skiing and then snowshoeing on Island Lake with her daughter. She enjoyed going on walks with her dogs, her daughter and her daughter's dogs. She was an avid golfer for many years at the Kenai Golf Course. She loved tending to her yard at her home on Island Lake.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Gary; parents, John and Anna Christenson; and her husband, Curt Morris, of 39 years. She is survived by her son, Rick Morris of Emeryville, Calif.; daughter, Pam Martinez and son-in-law Felix Martinez of Nikiski; granddaughter Celina Martinez; and grandson, Alex Martinez of Nikiski; sister, Agnes Wilson and husband Jim of Palmer, Alaska; brother, Curt Christenson of Palmer; brother, Russell Christenson and wife Yvonne of Anchorage; as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.

A small celebration of life will be held later in summer 2026. Donations to the local cancer organization, W.o.W., Way Out Women, would be appreciated due to their generosity during Karen's cancer treatments.

AnnaBell Stevens

Jul 25, 1929 -

Jun 10, 2026

AnnaBell Stevens was born in July 1929, in Gilmer County, W.Va., and passed on June 10, 2026, at Providence Hospital Anchorage.

By the late 1940s, AnnaBell was never afraid of work. She hails from West Virginia hills, where hard work is no stranger. She raised her own daughter while helping her mother to raise her brothers.

AnnaBell returned to and graduated in 1956 from Sand Fork High School in Sand Fork, W.Va. She spent much time on one end of a crosscut saw with her husband putting up firewood used while canning and for the winter heat supply. Many have heard, and guess from whom, that she could "hold her own with a crosscut saw as good as any man." But about 1968 she was up to a new adventure and after just leaving a note on the table, packed 12 foot lockers, took a Greyhound bus cross country without looking back and joined her now adult daughter in Anchorage, Alaska, to start anew. She worked in town for Leroy's Pancake House, Gage's Jewelers and then the Alaska Cleaners for many years.

She retired when federally eligible. But after five years saw a job that she had to have and came out of retirement to take up a 40-hour work week and did not look back. She finally decided it was time to retire at the end of the year she turned 90. Her accomplishments in our community and state include United Way of Anchorage Organized-Labor Liaison, Alaska State AFL-CIO Vice President, Alaska Central Labor Council delegate from Laundry and Drycleaning Local, Laundry and Drycleaning Local 333 director and past officer, Business and Professional Women/Alaska, Chinook Chapter (Anchorage) past president, Toastmasters International Alyeska Club Anchorage, Alaska Correctional Industries Commission Labor Services Representative member, Alaska State Community Service Commission past member, Mayor's Senior Citizen Commission Anchorage, Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club officer and director since 1981, Better Business Bureau of Anchorage director, Bartlett Democratic Club past officer and member, Red Hats Society Anchorage.

She was predeceased by parents, Lee and Edna Belle Hite; adoptive parents, Bud and Beulah Mencer; sisters, Elberta Bills and Martha Lee Radcliff. She is survived by her daughter, Jeannie Elam; brothers, Jimmy (Sharon) Mencer and Wayne (Faye) Mencer; grandchildren, Connie McWhorter and John Elam; plus many great-grandchildren and extended family.

Per her final wishes, there are no visitation or services. Cremation with ashes scattered over Sleeping Lady will be made.

Susan Sullivan

Dec 24, 1946 -

Jun 9, 2026

Susan Carol Meekins Sullivan, 79, passed away of natural causes on June 9, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. She will be remembered fondly as a loving and wise mother of four, grandmother of 11, an advocate for those without one, a lawmaker and a close friend.

Susan was born on Christmas Eve, 1946, the first child of Russ and Adele Meekins, who arrived in Alaska earlier that year and homesteaded in the Mountain View neighborhood of Anchorage.

During her life Susan experienced first-hand Alaska's boom-and-bust years. She witnessed the growth fueled by Cold War military spending, the devastation of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, the rapid expansion that accompanied construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline and the economic downturn of the 1980s. Politics was the lingua franca of Susan's childhood home. Her father served in the first Alaska State Legislature, and as a result Congressman Nick Begich, Senator Bob Bartlett and Governor Bill Egan were frequent dinner guests.

Susan was always industrious, and worked from an early age, whether moving cars around on her father's car lot or as Anchorage's "Mouseketeer Susie" of the live-on-air Mickey Mouse Club.

A graduate of West Anchorage High School, she attended Gonzaga University and the University of Oregon, ultimately earning her bachelor's degree in business and economics from Alaska Methodist University. Along the way, she studied and developed conversational fluency in French, Italian and Spanish, a pursuit that reflected her belief that understanding the world more broadly was the surest way to serve her own community well.

In 1974, Susan ran for State House and became, at the time, the youngest woman ever elected to the Alaska Legislature. During her tenure in the legislature, she chaired the House Health, Education and Social Services committee, and helped navigate the legislative framework for major educational reform, most notably the creation of Regional Educational Attendance Areas. She was also a co-sponsor of House Joint Resolution 39, which laid the structural foundation for the creation of the Alaska Permanent Fund.

In 1983, with a four-month-old baby and two energetic boys in tow, Susan packed her belongings and moved to Needham, Mass., to attend Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. In one of her proudest personal achievements, she earned her Master of Public Administration degree in just nine months.

Susan dedicated her life to public service. During her career, she served as Executive Director of the Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, the Fairbanks Resource Agency, the Alaska March of Dimes and Victims for Justice. She also volunteered extensively in the community, including many years on the boards of the West Anchorage High School Alumni Association and PTSA. During her tenure, she successfully championed funding for the construction of the school's science wing and planetarium and the restoration of the historic West High Auditorium.

For the past 50 years, Susan's Christmas morning sweet rolls were a cherished tradition for family, friends and neighbors. What began in the late 1970s as a few dozen sweet rolls for nearby families grew into a holiday production involving children and grandchildren working assembly-line style under Grandma Susan's supervision. Last Christmas, the family made nearly two "dozen dozen" sweet rolls that were delivered throughout Anchorage. Her kitchen was a gathering place year-round, with cookie dough often ready for visiting grandchildren and "Grandma's Cooking School" where she passed down family favorites, including strawberry rhubarb pie, chocolate chip cookies and her beloved sweet rolls. Her love was often expressed through the things she made and shared, from handmade baby blankets that became heirlooms to Halloween costumes that transformed children and grandchildren into whatever their imaginations could conjure.

In retirement, Susan treasured time spent with her many friends. She met regularly with the Wednesday women's group in her condominium building, spent Thursdays with the Bartlett Democratic Club and Fridays with the former legislators' group known as the FOSSILS. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, she rarely went anywhere without a book close at hand. She found joy in gardens, geology, history, science and the countless questions that make up a life well-lived.

Above all, she cherished her family. Her walls and tabletops were filled with photographs of her children and grandchildren. Afternoons at Grandma's house meant books, music, crafts and adventures. Family gatherings often found Susan sitting comfortably in her chair, mug of chai in hand, wearing "a smile you could see a mile" while watching grandchildren laugh, play and make memories together.

Susan was preceded in death by her brother, Russ Meekins Jr.; and granddaughter, Scarlett.

She is survived by her children, Timothy Sullivan Jr. (Terrill), Conor Sullivan (Carey), Catherine Sullivan and Moira Gallagher (Gregory); grandchildren, Shanleigh, Collin, Lillie, Quinn, Adele, Ramona and Henry Sullivan, and George, Eagan and Viola Gallagher; and sisters, Barbara Meekins, Kathy Kevrekian (Armen) and Genie Siedler (William). She is also survived by her former husband and the father of their children, Timothy Sullivan.

Susan believed deeply in public service, lifelong learning and the importance of family. Her generosity, intelligence and love will continue to shape the lives of all who knew her.

A memorial service celebrating Susan's life will be held on June 24, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Z.J. Loussac Library in Anchorage. The service will take place in the Rotunda followed by a reception in the Ann Stevens Room.

In lieu of flowers, which would have irritated her allergies anyway, the family asks that donations be made in Susan's memory to Victims for Justice, an organization that was especially meaningful to her.