DORIS JOAN KELLY nee Steik

9/11/32 – 12/20/21

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be!

Doris Joan (nee Steik) Keely, 89, of Ninilchik, Alaska, went home to her eternal home in heaven on December 20th, 2021. Doris was born in a cabin in Ninilchik village on September 18th, 1932, and she lived her whole life in Ninilchik. She moved into her present earthly home on December 7th, 1948, and it has been her lifetime residence. A member of Calvary Baptist Church since its founding, Doris loved the Lord Jesus Christ and had a deep faith in God and His Word. That flowers that bloomed so beautifully in fornt of the church were just one of the many things she did to make the world a more beautiful place.

Doris spent hours and hours developing the flower beds in front of her house and on the hill beside it. Tourists would stop by to see the beauty that was the result of Doris’ efforts. Her son-in-law, among others, often nursed a sore back as the result of hauling rocks that she used for those flower beds. But it was always worth the labor because of the love that everyone flet by being around Doris.

Another thing that will be sorely missed is her singing. She never held back when it came to singing the hymns at church. She truly loved the services and her church family. Many quilts were brought in for her memorial service, quilts she had made as gifts for various occassions, given to so many people over the years. They served as a testimony of the love Sister Doris had for others. Most of the folks who attended Calvary Baptist Church received at least one quilt, and moreover, her quilted handiwork was sent all over the world. There are young ladies as far away as Kenya who are mourning Doris’ passing and remembering her through a quilt. Members of the military and several college students will also remember Doris for her generosity and labor of love.

Doris is preceded in death by her husband of 61  years, Carl, her son, Clifford, and her daughters, Gail and Margaret. Doris is survived by her son, Carl, her daughter, Connie Judson (and son-in-law, John Judson), as well as 14 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren.

Doris Kelly Memorial Service was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik on Thursday, December 23rd, 2021, with interment following at the Ninilchik cemetary. Services were officiated by her pastor, Jon J. Cardwell of CBC Ninilchik, and her son-in-law, John W. Judson, pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Ketchikan, Alaska.

The audio player below contains a brief message from Pastor Jon Cardwell from the text, Psalm 16:10-11.

CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” TOWNE SELBY

3/11/52 – 9/2/19

A Life Saved By God’s Amazing Grace!

The following video was taken by Sis. Betsey Knox on September 2, 2012, recording Chris Selby’s testimony of Christ and his baptism in the Cook Inlet.

Brother Chris Selby, 67, of Ninilchik, AK, went home to be with his Lord Jesus on September 25th, 2019 at the Swedish ICU Hospital in Seattle, WA after suffering from liver and organ failure. Chris was born on March 11th, 1952 in Baltimore, MD to Harry Joseph (Joe) and Madelene Towne Selby.

Chris is survived by his brother, Charles (Chuck), and wife, Janet, of St. Michaels, MD; and his niece, Jennifer, and husband, Ted Sizemore of Delta, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, David.

Chris spent his early years in Kennebunkport, ME where his mother was born and raised, and where his grandfather was a grocer. When the family moved to Baltimore, MD, where Chris went to high school, he did not like city life, but enjoyed exploring the Chesapeake Bay area. Chris followed in his father’s footsteps as a master carpenter and gardener. He married his high school sweetheart, Connie Fetoe. They were married for about 15 years. Later he traveled through Europe and lived in England. He was married to Lisa Rowe of Cambridge, MD for a short time. When his friend, Randolph Murphy, who had a B&B in Ninilchik, invited Chris to travel to Alaska with him in June 2005, Chris told his family he was moving to Alaska. He felt at home in Alaska and enjoyed cooking on fishing and hunting boat trips with Tom and Aaron Mahoney. Lingcod fishing was his favorite. In 2009 he married Martesue Chapman of Ninilchik. In spite of Chris’ many talents, he had a life-long battle with alcohol until 2012 when he fell from the balcony of a house he was working on. When the paramedics found him, they were concerned he would not survive. He suffered a concussion and broken pelvis, but the Lord spared his life and touched his heart with a saving faith in the Lord Jesus. After Chris accepted God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, his drinking addiction ended. He became a new creature in Christ and the obvious change was apparent to all who knew him. He started attending Calvary Baptist Church and became a member after he made a public profession of his faith through baptism in Cook Inlet in September 2012. He loved reading his Bible and C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional. Chris was not at home in this modern age and was most comfortable in his wool pants, red long underwear and LL Bean low-cut leather/rubber mocs. He loved dogs and enjoyed taking care of Rob and Karen Haynes’ golden retrievers when they were traveling. He was part of their family since he lived in an apartment above their shop as he transformed their house into the home of their dreams. Chris delighted in special meals featuring his favorite foods, such as lamb. When he visited his long-time friend, David Kimmel, in MD, Chris looked forward to the dinners David prepared while he stayed in his cottage on Chesapeake Bay and worked on adding custom wood features to the interior of David’s boat, the Patty Ann. Chris will be greatly missed and remembered for: the beautiful things he made, and also for his very special garden that he shared with all, especially the sunflowers he grew for his friends and neighbors throughout the summer. As Chris would say, “It’s all of God’s grace.”

Chris Selby Memorial Service was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 3 p.m.

The audio player below contains the obituary reading and testimonies, followed by a brief message from Pastor Jon Cardwell from the text, Isaiah 62:12, “Sought Out.”

CHERYL BOND SUTTON

9/19/52  –  9/22/19

She was Lovely in Her Life;
Now Safely in the Loving Arms of Jesus

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. —Philippians 4:8

In Loving Memory of

CHERYL BOND SUTTON

by Mike Sutton

Our beloved Cheryl passed directly into the arms of her loving Savior at approximately 11:45 a.m. on September 22, 2019, under very trying circumstances. She was lovely in her life and is sorely missed by family, friends, and those who knew and loved her. Her adopted children, Anna and Michael, are already speaking of her in the eternal present. I, her husband during her stay on earth for the last forty years, am thankful for the years she shared with me. She has undoubtedly left me for a better man (the Lord Himself). Cheryl was subject to much trauma in her life; three major car accidents, four traumatic head injuries, a broken back with five major restorative surgeries over a thirty-year span— the fifth operation finally correcting the problem— additionally suffering from these injuries and corrective surgeries: broken shoulder and collarbone, broken hip, hip replacement, broken wrist, and finally a broken arm. She was a wonderful patient. In Seattle, during her back surgery, the staff nicknamed her “the Alaskan Angel.” She will be missed until our own entrance into Glory.

She is survived by her mother, Ruth Priest; brothers, Gary and Ed Bond, of whom she always had fond memories; sister, Judy, who was her constant source of mutual fun. She was preceded in death by her father, William Bond, who she remembered every year on the date of his passing in January; also her step-father, Milton Priest, a very kind man, of whom she is credited with saving his life by quickly assessing the situation and calling emergency services.

She had a gift for getting people the right care, and encouraging them in troubled times. She was an organ donor and her death of record is September 27th. She was a travel agent, extended care worker, bank teller, legal assistant, and legislative aide for the state of Alaska over a 17-year period of time. While working as a legislative aide, she worked for Carl Moses, Bill Williams, Gail Phillips, Ben Stevens, and Gary Stevens. She was also a loving wife and mother, as well as a commercial fisherman.

Memorial services were held for Cheryl Sutton  on Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik, Alaska; and a graveside ceremony was held on Saturday, October 19th, 2019 at Pittsfield Cemetery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Richard “Dick” Hunt

3/10/34 – 2/22/19

Our Beloved Brother in Christ…

Now Rejoicing in Christ’s Presence

Brother Dick Hunt entered into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at 4:10 p.m. on February 22, 2019 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. His remains were interred at the Ninilchik Cemetery on Saturday, May 18, 2019, with his nephews Richard, Russell and Steven Hunt in attendance. A later service was held at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, June 29, 2019.

Richard Francis Hunt, Jr.

Eulogy by Dick’s Nephew, Rich Hunt

Born March 10, 1934 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Richard & Julia Hunt as the oldest son of three boys who nicknamed him “Bigfoot” and was better known as Dick

1. Middle brother Bob, and youngest was Donald
2. Donald’s son’s are Steve, Rich & Russ all still living on East Coast in NH, MA & MD

Lived his life on a long journey and growing relationship with God doing exactly what he loved because it was what God intended for a life spent outdoors with a small circle of friends and family

1. Most valued his time fishing, hunting, camping, traveling, gardening
2. Very quiet and soft spoken man who had a sincere value of genuine relationships within the community
3. Always willing and wanting to serve others by lending a hand

Man who listened with both ears and spoke with one mouth – quiet demeanor but always attentive, interested in serving others, and a peaceful way about him

Early years spent fishing

1. Commonly in trouble with high school principal and father due to skipping school to fish
   • Once spent night out on water in a 12 foot wooden skiff in Buzzard’s Bay, MA because he hooked up on a shark and continued to fight it well into the night – significant trouble with his father
     • story relayed to nephews by Don and re-told at family dinners

1956-’58 Served in US Army as a motor pool vehicle mechanic including Korea in ‘58

Post Army Honorable Discharge used VA loan to purchase small commercial properties in Buzzard’s Bay, MA to start a Fishing Bait Shop & Boat Service Yard with brother Don who was recovering from cancer treatment at age 26

1. Bank approved loan based on buildings on property as collateral
2. Banker furious a month later when he stopped by and saw Dick & Don had torn down all of the buildings (collateral) for more boat yard space

They had bigger plans and built a very successful family-run community service-oriented business which greatly shaped all of our lives and is still a significant part of the community today – still carrying on his name under new family ownership – but still “Dick’s Marine Brokerage”

1. Spent spring, summer, fall working boat yard then cut Christmas trees in Canada to sell at boatyard to then fund Dick & Don’s winter trip to FL Keys to fish and attend the Daytona 500 NASCAR race
2. Continued this work rhythm until retired in 1986 (sold half of business to brother Don) and made first road trip to Alaska to camp, hike, and fish.

Spent initial retirement years giant tuna fishing out of Cape Cod, camping and fishing in Maine, winters in FL Keys fishing and camping with alternative trips to Alaska – all still as a single man

Met Mary Sofie in 1991 in FL Keys and married in Cape Cod that same year

Mary and Dick camped & fished together in Alaska and bought a home and moved to Ninilchik in 1993

1. Spent winters in Hawaii snorkeling, camping, and fishing
2. Lifestyle sounds extravagant – but was extremely simple and focused existences which valued time doing what he loved

A special thanks for all of the amazing blessings, care, and love to Uncle Dick from the church, Pastor Kit and Jon, the amazing Ninilchik community of friends and neighbors, the caregivers at Happy Valley Assisted Living, the doctors and nurses, care coordinators, and especially Willie & Marilyn Morris, Beverly Welborne, Myrtle & Elroy Erickson, Erica Neland (Happy Valley), Mike, Joe, Vicki, and so many others – you are a special group of people and the Hunt family knows Uncle Dick was exactly where God intended him to be – surrounded by all of you.

Last story – Rich remembers as a young teenager out on a boat with Uncle Dick in Buzzard’s Bay, MA – they were completing a late season job on a very cold, rainy, raw November day

1. Just outside of the Cape Cod canal Rich pointed out a shell fisherman in the water and commented on how miserable that looked on that day
   • Uncle Dick simply said – “Well I don’t know Rich, It’s just him and his Lord above out there – What could be better than that?”