Doris Simon

On Wednesday morning, April 27, 2011, with family by her side, our mother Doris Simon died peacefully at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. She was 84.

A memorial service will take place in Anchorage on June 3.

Doris was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Woodlake, Neb., one of eight children born to Sylvia and George Kreycik. She attended high school in Omaha, graduating with honors, but World War II interfered with her plans for college.

In 1947, she married Robert J. Simon in Valentine, Neb. Within a few years, the newlyweds moved to Seattle, where Doris worked while Bob attended the University of Washington.

After Bob graduated in 1953, they moved to Fairbanks, where Bob began a long career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Doris worked as a registrar for the University of Alaska.

In 1956, the family moved to Kodiak, where Doris began working with the Department of Labor. After the 1964 earthquake and tidal wave, Doris immediately became a full-time manager in her job and, like so many others in that community, she helped "pick up the pieces" after the disaster.

Doris was named Kodiak's Centennial Woman of the Year in 1967 for her community work, her efforts to raise working wages for women, her work to spearhead the establishment of the St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church, and her membership in a number of civic organizations.

In 1972, the family moved to Juneau; Doris transferred within the Department of Labor and soon became the manager of the Juneau Job Service, eventually becoming a deputy director in that agency.

Doris and Bob retired together from state service in 1981. They remained in Alaska but enjoyed traveling in their RV and their home in Juneau, where they were near family, friends and boating in Southeast Alaska.

The family will miss her for her intelligence, patience, unconditional love and open-hearted optimism. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Bob and son, Erik.

She is survived by her son, Kris (Maryann) Simon of Anchorage; daughter, Kathryn (Mark) Daughhetee of Seattle; granddaughters, Kirsten and Kalyn Simon, and two great-granddaughters, all of Anchorage; and grandson, Zane (Lynn) Daughhetee of Ann Arbor, Mich. She is also survived by three of her siblings.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Juneau and Anchorage Pioneers' Home for their care and compassion these last years.

Donations may be made in Doris' name to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage 99507.