At Gene's request, no funeral will be held. A celebration of life will be held on July 4, 2005, at the family homestead in Homer, where his cremated ashes will be scattered near those of his wife, Mim.

Mr. Effler was born Nov. 24, 1923, in Washington, Mo. He graduated in 1942 from Washington High School.

Gene joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He earned his wings as an officer in 1944 and was assigned as flight gunnery and tactical instructor in single engine fighters. He later started an aerobatic team named the "Satan's Angels" giving air shows at air bases.

After the war, Gene ferried aircraft for awhile around the United States, Mexico and Canada. He also was a flying instructor, and operated a cafeteria at Kratz Airport in St. Charles, Mo. with an Army buddy, Roy "Skip" Utter. Gene met his future wife, Millie "Mim" Morrison when she came in for a meal.

After marrying Mim in Salome, Ariz., on July 4, 1947, Gene, Mim and Skip moved to Alaska to continue their love of flying and flew to Alaska in August 1947.

Gene flew survey crews for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. He also continued to teach flight instruction, worked as a big game guide and developed a 160-acre homestead with Mim on East Hill in Homer.

Gene began flying for Alaska Airlines in 1951 as a co-pilot, then as an airline captain for Cordova Airlines. After Cordova Airlines merged with Alaska Airlines, he was an airline captain for Alaska Airlines until his retirement in 1978. After retirement, Gene became a helicopter pilot. He continued to fly private aircraft and helicopters, accumulating 35,000 flying hours in his lifetime.

Gene and Mim decided to raise their family in Anchorage, and moved there from Homer in December 1950.

Gene and Mim started Effco Electronics in Anchorage in 1957 with Mim's sister, Bookie, and her husband, Ray Cone. Gene and Mim also owned the Widgeon II, a king crab fishing boat in Kodiak, and built and renovated rental apartments and houses with their family.

Gene championed for 15 years the creation of the North-South runway at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and regarded it as one of the best air safety works he could have been involved in.

After he retired, Gene and Mim spenttheir winters in Oregon at their filbert farm, then sold it and bought an orange grove in Valley Center, Calif., where they subsequently stayed in the winter when they were not traveling. Summers were always spent in Homer on the homestead, which he and Mim had subdivided into Bayview Gardens Subdivision. In Homer, Gene could often be found sailing Kachemak Bay on his beloved halibut fishing boat, the Bayview Lady.

He always felt he was born at the right time, at the right place and that he lived a life considered "the best of all worlds."

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Mim, who died Jan. 22, 2003; his parents, Blanche and Carl Effler, three sisters, two brothers and two grandsons.

Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law Linda and Brady Drummond of Wasilla, Carolyn and Bill Carfrae of Burien, Wash., and Sherri and Earl Houser of Anchorage; son and daughter-in-law, Roy and Crystal Effler of Wasilla; 11 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and many other relatives throughout the United States.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to a charity of your choice. Condolences can be sent to Carolyn Carfrae, 2130 SW 122nd Place, Burien, WA 98146, or Tammy Lindemuth, 1210 F St., Anchorage, AK 99501.