Alma A. Drown

May 19, 1934-Dec. 30, 2016

Alma Aleda Drown, age 82, of Girdwood, Daniel’s Lake and Soldotna died peacefully on Dec. 30, 2016, in Florence, Ore.

Alma was born in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 1934. Three years later her parents moved their young family to San Francisco, where her parents had met in art school. When Alma was 8-years-old, the Andres family settled into the dreamy country life of Placerville, Calif. Bright and vivacious, Alma grew up in the Golden State in its golden years in a loving family and with a sunny temperament. Nothing was impossible. She excelled in school academically and socially, and held a special talent and love of theater and acting. At age 17 she went to visit her now married sister, Anita Sleeman, on her and her husband Evan Sleeman’s ranch in Lee, Nev. There with a backdrop of the majestic Ruby Mountains, she met her future husband, Charles Drown. In the nearby town of Elko, Nev., she married Charles on March, 9 1952. They began their family in northern Nevada with the births of Jenny, Nikki and Graydon.

In 1961, (after a short time in Shingle Springs, Calif.) they chose a life of new adventure and left for Alaska to settle in the Vale of Girdwood, during which time their next two children, Dorrie and Wesley, were born. Pioneering in Alaska they reared their family in wildly beautiful locations on the Kenai Peninsula. There with her intelligence, brilliant wit, and energy their children were nurtured in the playground of winter sports, love of all the areas of natural science, as well as the arts, with an abundance of friends and family always gracing their home. During this chapter, her love of truth would lead her to God and His Word which would subsequently define the last 50 plus years of her life.

In 1985, with their children all out of the nest, they moved back to Shingles Springs, Calif., to be closer to her aging parents and in-laws and to help them in their advanced age. A short time later they were blessed with raising their three grandchildren, Anya, Nadia and Charles. With the same energy and enthusiasm with which she brought up her first five children, she devoted herself to family life with art lessons for the children, days in the hills of Eldorado County with their horses, sewing costumes and putting on productions, and continuing to characteristically fill their home with friends, family and long term guests. Her genuine interest in others endeared her to many.

She lived with her whole heart.

Alma was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Charles Drown. She is survived by five children and their spouses, 26 grandchildren and their respective spouses, 30 great-grandchildren and their respective spouses, and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Progeny on the Kenai Peninsula include:

In Homer, her daughter Jenny (Steve) Roth and grandchildren; Leah Westphal and family; Kate (Rick) Barnard and family; Helen Turner and family; Richard (Mandy) Roth and family; and William Roth, as well as 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

In Soldotna, grandchild Abby(Terry) Franke.

Also a great deal of adored in-laws, out-laws, and friends all over Alaska.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 22, 2017, in Elko, Nev., at the Burns Funeral Home with a memorial to follow, open to all. At 10 a.m. Jan. 23, the burial and a graveside service will be held.