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Clarence Lavan 'Tiny' Moddison
Clarence Lavan Moddison, 80, died on April 29,
2006, at his home in Meadow Lakes of a cardiac arrest. A service is scheduled
for 5 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2006, at Salvation Army Mat-Su Corps, 209 W. Evergreen
in Palmer. Major Dan Hughes will officiate at the service.
He was born on Jan. 4, 1926, in Sacramento,
Calif. He graduated from high school and then went into the United States Army
at Fort Richardson.
In 1947, he moved to Alaska. He lived in Attu
and Adak in the late 1940s, and then moved to Anchorage in 1988. He was employed
by Civil Aviation Administration and Federal Aviation Administration from 1950
to 1965. He also was an electrical lineman, and a civil service engineer.
He was very active in life until he was
promoted to glory. He was part of the Salvation Army Church in Palmer. He was a
member of the Republican National Committee, was a 10-gallon blood donor at
American Association of Blood Banks in Meadow Lakes, and a member of the
community council. He was a private pilot, owned his own plane, camped, hunted,
dug for clams, and enjoyed the outdoors and teaching his oldest granddaughter to
fly.
His family stated, "Tiny loved God, his family
and the outdoors. He grew up in Sacramento working on the family peach orchard
and at the family gas station. Tiny was a very giving man, who always went the
extra mile to do whatever was necessary to get the job done. He was lighthearted
and jovial, loved to joke and put a smile on everyone's face. His family will
always remember him as Bumps. A close friend crash landed on an Alaska mountain
top, and didn't feel comfortable asking to use Tiny's plane. But Tiny loaned his
friend the plane and it took over a month to get parts, fix and fly the other
plane out. Tiny's motto was, ‘smile and the world smiles with you, kick and you
kick alone.' He loved to go camping and really enjoyed taking his daughter Tanna
clam digging. He enjoyed driving down side roads and exploring just to see where
the road went. He was a practical problem solver; he would keep at the problem
until the job was satisfactorily completed. Tiny loved to share experiences and
stories of his past. He will be remembered as a man of God who loved his family
and had many friends. The memories will bring a smile and often times laughter
to all of us who knew him. He will be walking the streets of heaven waiting for
his Christian family members and friends to join him some day.”
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Velma
Moddison of Meadow Lakes; daughter, Tann Moddison of Roy, Wash.; granddaughters,
Kayla and Crystal Moddison of Roy and Meadow Lakes; sister, Marcella "Peggy”
Jacks of Anchorage; half-brothers Wayne and Jim and wife Eleanor Moddison of
Washington; half-sisters; JoAnne and husband Al Von Thun of Reno, Nev., Susan
Winston of Sacramento, and Linda Martin of Sonoma, Calif.; stepchildren, Carolyn
and husband Mel Grafton of Carman, Ill., Ila and husband Barry Farley of Rock
Falls, Ill., and Dale and wife Debbie Oldham of Wilburton, Okla.; grandchildren,
Troy Frank, Brent Frank, Rodger Johnson, Sharon Johnson, Marla Oldham and
Heather Oldham; nieces, Karron "Pixie” and husband Dave Weise of Sutton, and
Kathryn Lytle of Anchorage; nephew, Glenn "Bim” Jacks of Anchorage; and numerous
great-nieces and nephews in Alaska and Idaho; lifelong friends, Mike and Ann
Stanelle of Houston, Paul Sutherland of Dillingham, and Bob and Becky Miers of
San Dimas, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry
Cline Moddison; mother, Wilma Irene Preston; and sister, Henryetta Mary Clarice
McCrady.
Donations may be made to The Salvation Army
Mat-Su Corps, P.O. Box 1106, Palmer 99645. The family also would appreciate
flowers at the service. Mr. Moddison will be cremated and his remains will be
spread at the family home on Beverly Lake on June 18.
Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and
Crematory.
Source: Frontiersman, 5 May 2006 |
