G. Jean Truscott

Apr 20, 1940 -

May 14, 2020

Eagle River resident, G. Jean Truscott, 80, died May 14, 2020, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, from a recurrent breast cancer. Jean was born on April 20, 1940, on Long Island, N.Y. She was the oldest of three children born to Ted and Leanna Rumsey. She lived in New York until 1977, when she headed to Alaska, trading in her high heels and high fashion for winter boots and arctic parkas. It was while in Alaska that she met her husband, John Truscott, whom she married in 1979.

Jean loved dogs and was the owner and operator of Duhill Kennels for over 30 years, providing care for countless dogs and befriending many of their owners.

Jean and John were charter members of the Alaska Great Pyrenees Club and Lifetime Members of the Obedience Training Club of Chugiak, training and showing their dogs.

Growing up, Jean was very athletic and excelled in a variety of sports in high school. Jean attended Nassau Community College where she earned an associate in degree science. She worked for Doubleday Publishing Company in New York, for a time.

Jean was an avid baseball fan. Originally, she was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, however, like many, was she unhappy when the team moved to Los Angeles. Later, she became a fan of the Seattle Mariners.

Jean was also involved in the fiber arts, as a spinner and weaver. She became interested in spinning when she decided to spin her dogs' fur. She was a member of the Eagle River Spinners, the Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild and a past member of the Valley Fiber Arts Guild. She demonstrated spinning many places, including the Scottish Highland Games, the Bear Paw Festival and the Alaska State Fair. She was a regular contributor to the state fair and often judged the fiber arts entries. She made beautiful woven garments, many of which were featured in guild fashion shows.

Jean had a beautiful soprano voice and was a longtime member of the choir at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River.

Jean is survived by her brother, Richard Rumsey of Tucson, Ariz.; and four cousins; as well as her many friends, who thought of her as family. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Roger Truscott Sr.; her parents, Ted and Leanna; and sister, Diane.

In planning for this time, Jean said, "I leave my love and best wishes to my friends and family, with gratitude for the joy they have brought me."

A virtual memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2020, at 2 p.m. Friends can view the online memorial service by going to www.joy-Lutheran.com.