Esther May Starkey

Esther May Starkey (65) passed away peacefully in her home in Wasilla, Alaska on January 26, 2026.

She was born in Chignik Lake on May 19, 1960 to Mary Constantine and Johnny Constantine. She had three siblings – Tina Pedersen, Eddie Constantine and Myra Constantine.

Her family lived in Chignik Lake during the winter months where she attended school. She had one child, DaWayne Constantine and he had 2 sons, Conner and Trevor Constantine (her grandsons). During the summer months they commercial fished at Chignik Lagoon and that was where she met her husband, William (Bill) Starkey. He was a pilot and fisherman for her Uncle Nick.

Shortly after meeting Bill, they were employed at Mission Lodge in Aleknagik, Alaska where she was a housekeeper and Bill was a pilot. They married at Mission Lodge.

After many years in Aleknagik, they moved to Skwentna, Alaska. They spent many hours on the winter trail between Skwentna and Willow hauling in supplies on snowmachine and by boat on the river in the summer to build their retirement home. After Bill became ill, they moved to Wasilla, Alaska, as cutting and hauling firewood and fuel grew to be too much for Esther and Bill needed to be closer to medical care.

In the summer of 2000, Esther and Bill went to work for Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), soon after went under new management of Southcentral Foundation. They were managers of the Silver Salmon Fish Camp located on Silver Salmon Creek in the Lake Clark National Park where they worked until 2020. It was there where many life-long friendships were made with members of the CIRI/SCF family.

In 2018, Katherine Gottlieb's daughter, Angel, helped arrange a surprise for Esther at Silver Salmon Creek. A small plane landed on the beach and her son, DaWayne, and, grandson, Conner, jumped out of plane. They got to spend a couple of wonderful days catching Silver Salmon at the Creek. This was a very special moment for Esther and she cried when they landed and when they departed.

When at home in Wasilla, Esther loved to take long road trips and often traveled to Homer and Seward to fish. She loved to gather seashells and other trinkets washed up by the ocean, special rocks and unique pieces of driftwood.

Esther will be once again joined with Bill later this summer when her ashes are spread at Silver Salmon Fish Camp amongst the grass, the trees, the streams and the ocean of a place she dearly loved.

Esther is survived by her son, DaWayne; grandson, Conner; Esther's only surviving sibling, Myra and many, many other relatives.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, her grandson, Trevor and her siblings, Tina and Eddie.

May she rest in peace.