Jane Melarvie

Anchorage resident Jane Helen Melarvie, 83, died March 6, 2009, at Providence Alaska Medical Center, surrounded by family and friends.
There will be a viewing at 1 p.m. Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church, Eighth Avenue and F Street. A funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Pallbearers will be Stephan Melarvie, Matthew Melarvie, Travis G. Thomas, Marcus Methonen, Reinhard Howard and Larry Compton. The location of the celebration of life (after the service) has changed: it will now be held in the Hotel Captain Cook’s Endeavor Room. Jane will be laid to rest this spring next to her beloved husband, Curly, at Fort Richardson Cemetery.
Jane was born June 22, 1925, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to William and Helen Fisher. A few years after completing high school in New York, she went to work for Dean Witter. In 1952, Jane went to California for a two-week vacation where she met K.V. "Curly" Melarvie. They were married on March 6, 1954. Soon after, Jane and Curly moved to Kodiak, where they had four children. While in Kodiak, Jane was a founding member of the "Milliken" Shows and the outdoor play "The Cry of the Wild Ram". For many years she was also a member of the Emblem Club at the Elks Lodge, where Curly was a lifetime member. In 1969, the Melarvie's moved to Anchorage. Soon after moving to Anchorage, Jane went to work for Parts Warehouse of Alaska as a key-punch operator.
In 1971, Jane became a real estate agent with Real Estate Corner of Alaska, and then with Century 21 John DiBene. Retiring in 1983, Jane and Curly spent eight years traveling throughout the Lower 48 in their beloved motor home. Jane was an active member of All Saints Episcopal Church for many years. Jane loved to play bridge at the Anchorage Bridge Center.
Besides bridge, her other favorite pastimes were crossword puzzles, the game shows "Jeopardy" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." For years, she was a volunteer for Court Watch.
In Jane's own words: "I've had a great life."
"Mom was loved and adored by all who met her feisty New York personality," her family wrote. "She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends."
Survivors include her four children, Kathleen Filori, Linda M. Thomas, Stephan and Valerie Melarvie, and Sandra and Marc Methonen; grandchildren, Sean Griswold, Craig Bold, Nichole Rehm, Alisha Bowles, Travis G. Thomas, Stephanie Melarvie, Vanessa Melarvie, Matthew Melarvie, Chase Howard, Rorijane Howard, their father, Reinhard Howard, and Falon Methonen; great-grandchildren, Madeline and Macy Griswold; and her dear friends, Donna and Larry Compton.
She was looking forward to the birth of a third great-grandchild.
Jane was preceded in death by her loving husband of 47 years, K.V. Melarvie; and brothers David and Thomas Fisher.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.