Florence Scott Rooney

1938 - 2018

A beloved wife and cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at the age of 80.
Born in Detroit, Mich., she came from simple beginnings and was raised on her grandmother's farm located on the shores on the St. Claire River in Courtright, Ontario, Canada. She moved back to Detroit to live with her mother and complete grade school. She graduated from Denby High School. Coincidentally her future husband of 58 years, James Rooney, also attended these same schools. Flo earned her degree in Literature from Wayne State University in Detroit. It was in high school on a double date where she met Jim. Later while both single, they bumped into each other on the WSU campus pathway walking between classes. Jim stupidly did not ask for her phone number. He then spent weeks hounding friends to find her. Obviously, he did. They were married in 1960, and after their first daughter was born, Jim and Flo moved to Alaska in 1963. In their early years together, they lived in the Southeast, first in Juneau, then Valdez and finally Fairbanks. In 1967, they moved to Iowa for Jim to complete his Master of Science in Civil Engineering and there they had their second daughter. In 1969, they moved back to Fairbanks, Alaska, and more relocations followed over the years, including time in California. They returned permanently to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1983. Throughout all this change and new locations, Flo was steadfast by her husband's side, a devoted mother, constantly striving to expand her higher education, learning new languages, and an active supporter in the arts community. She was an exceptional role model to her daughters. They were so proud of her when at the age of 41, Flo enrolled in law school, eventually earning her degree from Western State University College and passing the California State Bar.
For those who had the joy in knowing her, they knew how much she loved music, especially opera. She enjoyed traveling internationally, cooking, birds and flowers, and loved to have engaging and intellectual conversations with people. She was extremely active and competitive and always full of life. Her grandchildren have countless stories of the activities they did with her well into her 70s, including downhill and water skiing, skating at Westchester Lagoon and playing tennis.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, James Rooney; her daughters, Alyson Behm (Arthur) and Yvette Galbraith (Gary); five grandchildren, AJ Behm, Andrew Behm, Kyle Milne, James Milne and Leon Galbraith (Allison); plus three great-grandchildren, Novi, Cedar and Roan Galbraith. She is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret McLeod; and her father, William Scott; niece, Renee Keighley; uncle, Neil Armstrong; cousin, Corcoran Armstrong; and her favorite aunt, Trudy Armstrong.
Her family is very grateful to Home Care Assistance and her caregivers, Angela Lee Doll, Felicia Washington, Cecilia Mora-Pitts and several others who made her last years so very special. Flo's Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at the Rooney's residence from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Those wishing to attend are asked to email abehm@gci.net or call 907-227-0777 for directions. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association of Alaska.