Marilyn "Ursula" Gould

Mar 17, 1950 -

Oct 20, 2022

Marilyn "Ursula" Gould, age 72, of Anchorage, Alaska, died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.

Ursula was born on March 17, 1950, to William and Elizabeth Gould. On Sept. 16, 2006, she married Tom Manson who preceded her in death on July 6, 2015. They were blessed with nine years of enjoying a life rich in culture, the out of doors and treasured friends.

Raised on the northeast side of Detroit, Mich., Ursula graduated from Denby High School, then Wayne State University with a degree in music therapy; she first worked at Camarillo State Hospital in Camarillo, Calif. On a lark she vacationed in Alaska, fell in love with its rugged beauty and made it her home.

She received a master's degree in music education from the University of Alaska Anchorage and taught music on the elementary school level in the Anchorage area until her retirement. She had a passion for music, the theater and the arts, and a love of life that was contagious.

She loved to travel and visit family and friends. She especially enjoyed her yearly trip to northern Michigan to enjoy the Traverse City Film Festival and yearly vacation time with her sister and brother-in-law and their children. Being entertained by "Auntie Patty" was a much looked forward to event.

A well-known and respected actress in the Anchorage area, her list of performing roles is long and varied. A few include: Erma Bombeck, Tea for Three, Calendar Girls, Nunsense, Our Town, Charlie Brown and a Delicate Balance. She enjoyed creating and performing "Singing Telegrams," going to the symphony, opera, jazz concerts, walks with friends and water aerobics at the Y.

She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Ballmer (Robert) of Empire, Mich.; her late husband Tom's children, Paul Manson (Claire) of Portland, Ore., and Brian Manson (Kat Murphy) of Seattle, Wash.; and grandchildren, Iona and Phoebe.

She was preceded in death by her brother, William Jay Gould; and parents, Bill and Betty Gould.

Cremation has taken place. Service has been provided by Janssen Funeral Homes Inc., Evergreen Memorial Chapel. There is talk of a Celebration of Life in Michigan and Anchorage spring or summer 2023.