Obituaries

June 28, 1973-Dec. 3, 2016

Matthew Soren Bell, 43, died Dec. 6, 2016.

Richard W. “Toby” Tyler

July 24, 1927-Dec. 22, 2016

Alaska artist and Homer icon Richard W. “Toby” Tyler, 89, died at South Peninsula Hospital’s Long Term Care Facility in the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 2016.

He was born on July 24, 1927, in Bronxville, N.Y., to Henry Teller Tyler and Wilfred Marvin Wilson Tyler. Three years later, his family drove west to Sacramento, Calif., where he attended school and spent summers camping and hiking in the high Sierra Mountains. It was during the seventh grade that he gained the nickname “Toby.”

J. Harvey J. Kres

Sept. 3, 1927-Dec. 22, 2016

Former Homer resident Dr. J. Harvey J. Kres, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, of Cape Coral, Florida, died Dec. 22, 2016, at Hope Hospice, Cape Coral, Fla.

“He passed on to his eternal reward in Heaven,” his family said.

Tylor B. Campbell

Aug. 25, 2001-Dec. 4, 2016

Tylor Brandon Campbell, 15, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, at home with the Moore family in Nikiski.

Graveside services were held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at the Kenai City Cemetery. A memorial service was at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at the Hope Community Center on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Pallbearers were Micha Campbell, Austin Freeman, Travis Moore, Edward Prevost, Eric Prevost and Shane Bostic.

Will Tomlinson Jr.

Feb. 18, 1927-Nov. 14, 2016

World War II veteran and Pioneer Alaskan Will Hodge Tomlinson Jr. died at Homer’s South Peninsula Hospital on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, of natural causes. Will died when he wanted, loved and touched as he left.

He was born on Feb. 18, 1927, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., to Will Hodge Tomlinson and Virginia Evelyn Durham.

Debra A. Henderson

June 1, 1955-Dec. 4, 2016

Ninilchik resident Ms. Debra Anne Henderson, 61, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Carl Bock Hall inside the Ninilchik Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. A reception will follow.

Sonny Smith, 85, died peacefully at South Peninsula Hospital with his wife Nancy of 51 years at his side. He was born in Austin, Texas. He was a Korean War veteran. He graduated from Texas A&M University. He drove cattle trucks cross country and he loved to ride bulls. Sonny moved to Alaska 1972. He drove trucks in Alaska and worked on the pipeline, the water treatment plant and at the head of Kachemak Bay until he bought the Glacier Drive-In, where he and his wife owned/worked for 31 amazing years.

Paulie Marie Blankenship

May 18, 1950-Nov. 28, 2016

Paulie Marie Blankenship, 66, died early on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. She died at home from a swift and sudden heart attack, with her husband Harvey Blankenship by her side. “She went home to be with her Lord and Savior,” her family said.

Ruth S. Gnad

June 17, 1917-Nov. 14, 2016

Mrs. Ruth S. Gnad, aged 99 of Homer, died Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, at South Peninsula Hospital.

Ruth was born on June 17, 1917, in Briggsdale, Colo.

Ruth graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in education. She moved to Anchorage in 1961 and then to Homer in 1964 to teach, retiring from the Kenai Peninsula School District in 1977.

Ellen L. Grouws

April 5, 1945-Nov. 3, 2016

Ellen Lorraine Grouws, 71, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, was born April 5, 1945, and died peacefully on Nov. 3, 2016.

Gary Michael Horrell

Feb. 28, 1949-Oct. 28, 2016

Gary Michael Horrell, 67, died Oct. 28, 2016, in Mill Creek, Wash. A long time Alaskan and former resident of Homer, he was born Feb. 28, 1949, in Anchorage. Gary relocated to Anacortes, Wash., where his grandparents lived and his mother grew up. He was a teacher, coach and education administrator before retiring in 1996, but spent several years coaching in Anacortes area schools, too. Coach Horrell was always inspired by various sports, and many young athletes benefitted from his energy and dedication to the field.

Nov. 29, 1930-Oct. 19, 2016

Fredric Earl Linder, aged 85 of Homer died on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at Providence Seward Mountain Haven in Seward.

Fredric was born Saturday, Nov. 29, 1930, to Adolph and Eileen (Champion) Linder in Spokane, Wash., where he later graduated high school. After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, earning the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in February of 1950.

March 21, 1954-Oct. 13, 2016

Homer resident Deidre Ann Bottineau, 62, died suddenly Thursday morning, Oct. 13, 2016.

A celebration of life is 2-6 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22, 2016, at Wasabi’s Restaurant, 59217 East End Road, with a no-host bar.

March 4, 1960-Oct. 12, 2016

Homer resident Mr. James Patrick Nestor, 56, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at his home in Homer.

No services will be held at this time.

Mr. Nestor was born March 4, 1960, in Evergreen Park, Ill. He graduated from Oaklawn High School in 1978. He received an associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 1987. In 1985 he worked for Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Mich., up until 1987. In 1987 he worked for West Shore Medical Center in Manistee, Mich.

Sept. 9, 1956-Oct. 3, 2016

Longtime Homer resident and Cook Inlet fisherman Paul Mackie died Oct. 3, 2016, in his home overlooking Kachemak Bay. His wife and brother were at his side. Paul was 60 years old.

Obituaries

Jimmie D. Watkins

Oct. 12, 1945 – Sept. 22, 2016

Longtime Homer resident Jimmie D. Watkins died Sept. 22, 2016 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. He was 70.

He was born Oct. 12, 1945, in Marysville, Calif., and his early childhood was on a ranch/farm surrounded by fruit orchards near Sacramento. He had many adventures raising turkeys, chickens and other farm animals. So many of his great stories came from experiences there and throughout the orchards. His memory was awesome and most of the stories were true.

Jimmie Watkins

Oct. 12, 1945-Sept. 22, 2016

Homer resident Jimmie Watkins, 70, died Sept. 22, 2016, in Anchorage. A memorial service is 4-7 p.m. Oct. 12, 2016, at the American Legion Post 16, Mile 2 East End Road. A remembrance begins at 5:15 p.m. Hot dogs, hamburgers and fried chicken will be served; please bring a side dish to share.

He was born Oct. 12, 1945, in Marysville, Calif., and worked as a mechanic for his business, Port Engineering. He is survived by his wife, Gwen Watkins. His ashes will be scattered later.

Feb. 20, 1941-Sept. 16, 2016

Mr. Virgil Wayne Englishbee Sr., 75, of Anchor Point, died from pulmonary fibrosis on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at St. Elias Speciality Hospital in Anchorage, after a day surrounded by family and friends. A service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at Chapman School in Anchor Point.

Pallbearers were Wayne Englishbee, Brian Dean, Dale LiaBraaten, Jim Toci, Bruce Hunting, Neil Kinney, Russell Chesser and Jim Anderson, with honorary pallbearers being Randy Pittman, Darin Matson, Frank Christensen and Jimmy Englishbee.

Walter R. Pudwill

May 25, 1955-Sept. 10, 2016

Walter Raymond Pudwill, 61, carpenter, gardener, prospector and fix-it-man extraordinaire, died Sept. 10, 2016, at home in Homer, Alaska, after living with cancer for nearly four years.

Kriss Dawn Swoboda

Oct. 8, 1965 – Sept. 13, 2016

Kriss Dawn Swoboda, 50, died Sept. 13, 2016. Her family said she passed away “after a lengthy and inspiring battle with cancer.”

Kriss was born Oct 8, 1965, on Kodiak Island to Don and Mary Mack. She grew up in Kodiak and started commercial fishing at an early age. She moved to College Station, Texas, in 1997. While there she managed the office of Swoboda Tile for 10 years while raising her family and making many new friends. She recently moved to Homer, where she continued to make new friends.