Michelle V. Minor

Feb 11, 2024

On Feb. 11, 2024, Michelle V. Minor passed peacefully in Anchorage, Alaska. While her wish is not to disclose her birthdate, her grace, radiant smile and style were timeless. Michelle's fierce independence, big-hearted generosity, sharp wit and intellectual acuity were just a few highlights of her free-spirited nature that will be so missed.

Michelle graduated early from Point Loma High School in San Diego, Calif., and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, to enroll in the University of Alaska. After losing all possessions in the historic Fairbanks flood, she worked for the Small Business Administration processing the loans which aided in Fairbanks' recovery. Michelle transferred to the University of Washington, where she completed her bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. coursework in English literature, before graduating from the UW School of Law. Michelle was a lifelong member of the Washington and Alaska Bar Associations. She was well regarded in the legal community, cheerily "bringing happiness to the miserable."

An avid outdoorswoman, Michelle loved fishing, kayaking and camping with friends. She often declared, "It's not a Great Alaskan Adventure unless you're cold and wet!" She had many tales of travels throughout Alaska with some of the state's most prominent minds. Michelle traveled extensively internationally, from Europe to Tibet, India, and Vietnam, and co-piloted a small plane from Alaska to the Yucatan.

Michelle was known for gracious entertaining, and for being "like a second mom" to many of her daughter's friends, who annually performed plays Michelle wrote based on their Halloween costumes. Michelle loved hosting parties; she was an exceptional gourmet cook and an expert in wine, having co-founded one of Alaska's first fine wine import businesses. Often described as colorful and vibrant, she is no doubt the life of the party on the other side - and, she's probably hosting.

Michelle is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Minor of Asheville, N.C. She is known as "Mimi" to Jennifer's children, Julian Emerald and Adira. Michelle is survived by her brother, Michael Minor of California. Michelle also lives on through the family she helped create through her dear friend, Rita Allee of Fairbanks, and Mercedes Colbert of Juneau, Alaska.