After the happy couple married, they spent about 12 years in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and now live contentedly in Port Graham.

They have five children, 12 grand-children and seven great-grandsons, with three more great-grandchildren on the way.

"What a way to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary during our Alaska State 50th Anniversary celebration," the family writes.

"Our parents poured their lives into us, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also put a lot of energy into the community of Port Graham."

Bobby McMullen was in the Air Force, and worked as a commercial fisherman, a farmer in Iowa, on the trans-Alaska pipeline, as a cannery foreman, owned a grocery store, and maintained the local airstrip for the state of Alaska.

Elenore McMullen had a career as a nurse. She graduated as an LPN from Edgecombe College in North Carolina and continued with nursing until her recent retirement. In Port Graham, she was offered a health aide position "...which she took to the highest level and beyond. Elenore was instrumental in bringing needed social services to our community. She was the Village Chief in Port Graham from 1990 through 2002 and was always concerned with raising the standard of living," the family writes.

"Bobby and Elenore McMullen are self-sacrificing people who have always helped anyone in need.

"We are grateful for the love and time and awesome example they have given us these many years as a married couple," the family writes.

"May God grant Bobby and Eleanor McMullen many more years."

William Kevin Anderson

Aug. 8, 1955-Nov. 13, 2008

(w/art)Capt. William Kevin Anderson (just Will to his family and friends), was born in Seattle on Aug. 8, 1955, and passed away peacefully on Nov. 13, at Seattle Swedish Hospital surrounded by his large, loving family, closing his 20-year battle with lymphoma and an extraordinary life.

His family writes, "Husband, father and friend, master mariner and natural raconteur - no one who knew him will ever forget Will's clear and easy thinking, his way with words and his off-kilter cool. He was raised in a home overlooking Puget Sound, Wash., and the water must have imprinted on him at an early age, because he never really left it. He attended California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Calif., where he earned a third mate's license, and met and married the love of his life who provided an anchor for his wanderlust for 30 years. After graduating from California Maritime Academy, he operated vessels from Tunisia to West Africa; from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska. He moved his wife and kids to Brazil when his work with Zapata Marine took him there in 1984. Later, Will became a licensed marine pilot and navigated ships in Western Alaska before returning to the Puget Sound where he concluded his career, sailing as a Puget Sound Pilot. Nevertheless, his heart always remained in Alaska.

"As a highly respected member of the Alaska Marine Pilots, he guided many vessels on the rugged and remote waters of Western Alaska. Both an expert navigator and self-taught naturalist, there wasn't much that Will missed during his adventures out and around Dutch Harbor. Will loved Alaska and to listen to him spin his yarns about a sailor's life spent in the Aleutians was to hear the spirit of Jack London speak.

"He embraced the gift of life with a passion seldom seen in the world today. He especially loved Homer and had hoped to spend many more years here, doing what he so loved: taking his boat out fishing, exploring the waters of Kachemak Bay, and later sharing the catch of the day with good friends who loved listening to him tell a good story."

He is survived and missed by his wife, Penelope; his sons, Kinamo and Sam; his daughters, Jessica and Janise; his father, Dr. Sam Anderson; his brothers, Mark, David and Stephen; his sisters, Camille Horne, Christine Stickler and Lisa Crabtree; five grandchildren; and fourteen nephews and nieces. Will was preceded in death by his mother, Pat Anderson, and grandparents, Clarence and Henrietta Walsh.

To salute a life well-lived, an open-house celebration of Will's life will be held 1-6 p.m. Dec. 20, at Peter and Teena Garay's house located at 870 Reber Road, (off West Hill Road) in Homer.

In lieu of flowers, bring your stories about Will. Please call 235-4147 by Dec. 13, if you intend to attend the celebration of life.