John Vernon Lillie Sr.

1962 - 2024

Our beloved John Vernon Lillie Sr., 62, passed on Oct. 18, 2024, at his home in Tanacross, Alaska. He courageously fought and completed cancer therapy when he unexpectedly passed.

John was born on Aug. 14, 1962, to Paula Evans of Rampart, Alaska, and John Lillie of Sioux City, Iowa. His father served in the United State Navy. As a result, he was born in Bremerton, Washington, and grew up on Navy installations up and down the East and West coasts, as well as two Midwest bases. He loved the excitement of traveling and making new friends, boys as well as girls. His mother recalls a time when he was 9 and he hadn't made it home from school. She found him tied to a tree with the girls lined up taking turns for a kiss on the cheek.

John excelled in sports playing baseball and football in school and bowling in a league. For someone who did not like to eat fish, fishing was his favorite hobby. Everywhere they moved he would seek out the best fishing holes.

John's work ethic was second to none. Along with some buddies, he got his first job at 12 years old caddying at golf courses in Chicago, Illinois, and Portsmouth, Maine.

When John's father retired from the Navy, the family moved north to Alaska, his mother's homeland, where he learned his Koyukon Athabascan culture. John attended Ryan Middle School and West Valley High School and then went into the construction trade. He met and fell in love with Cathie Webster. They moved to Tanacross where he worked at the village's water plant for ten years and then for the Dot Lake village until his cancer diagnosis.

John was predeceased by his father John Lillie Sr.; grandparents, George and Leota Peterson and Jesse and Elaine Evans; and close friends Jeff Butler and John R. Walker.

John is survived by his wife, Cathie Lillie, and children, John Lillie Jr. and wife Kate, Cheno Crow, Chloe Arnold and Kevin Webster; mother, Paula Evans; sister, Debbie Lillie and her children Justin, Jason and Kyle Butler; brother, Paul Lillie, wife Sara, and their children Julian, Jordyn and Angelo; brother, Ray Swatsenbarg; grandson, Leo Lillie; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

John was a quiet, gentle soul who loved his village life, but above all he loved his family. John will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will be held 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, with services at noon at David Salmon Tribal Hall, 111 Clay St. Burial will follow at the Fairbanks Native Cemetery on Birch Hill with a potlatch at 6 p.m. at the tribal hall. Arrangements have been entrusted to Blanchard Family Funeral Home.