A funeral was held on Jan. 27, 2003, at McLeod Mortuary Escondido Chapel. A private cremation was held and a memorial service will take place later this summer in Homer with her ashes being spread on her homestead overlooking Kachemak Bay.

Mrs. Effler was born on Feb. 25, 1924, in Fruithearst, Alab., to Morris and Ura Morrison.

She grew up in Ames, Iowa, graduating from Ames High School in 1941. She married Gene Effler on July 4, 1947, in Salome, Ariz., honeymooning at the Grand Canyon, and subsequently headed to Alaska.

Mim and Gene homesteaded in Homer in July 1949 and Mim quickly became a veteran homesteader, chopping her own wood, picking coal out of the canyon and carrying water from the well down to the cabin.

She also lived in Anchorage for 40 years, where she and Gene raised their four children.

In retirement, Mim and Gene wintered in Valley Center, Calif., and came home to Homer for the late spring through early fall. Mim enjoyed traveling, golf, beachcombing and photography.

Her family wrote: "Life was a celebration for Mim. She never missed an opportunity to be there for all the important events in her family's life. Her persevering spirit and loving nature was an inspiration to all that knew her."

She was preceded in death by her grandsons Paul Anthony Brenton and Samuel Adam Fortney, her parents and four brothers. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Gene Effler of Homer; daughters and sons-in-laws Linda and Brady Drummond of Wasilla, Carolyn and Bill Carfrae of Seattle, and Sherri and Earl Houser of Anchorage; son and daughter-in-law Roy and Crystal Effler of Wasilla; sisters Bookie Cone and Betty Sinnott, both of Escondido; sister and brother-in-law Bea and Tom Cena of Seattle; brother and sister-in-law John and Shirley Morrison of Ogden, Iowa; grandchildren Michelle, Tammy, Charlene, Angie, Michael, AimEe, Carina, Ian, Daniel, Earl and Haley, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by McLeod Mortuary.