Leroy “Roy” Wilbur Cabana

Leroy “Roy” Wilbur Cabana, age 9, born in South Bend, Indiana, passed away peacefully at his home in Homer, Alaska, surrounded by his family on Oct. 22, 2021, at 10:22 p.m. Even in his final moments he was still full of his quick wit and banter. Some of his final words were “turn it loose,” which was a tribute to his life as a commercial fisherman. Until his final moments, he kept the room captive with his stories, songs, and humor. Roy will be truly missed.

Roy, husband, Pops, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great uncle, mentor, friend, storyteller and an original rapping-rhyming-card shark will forever live on in our hearts and memories. His sense of humor and love of fishing will truly be remembered by all that knew him.

Throughout Roy’s life, he touched many lives be it by land or sea. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and guarded the Panama Canal. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and awarded a WWII Victory Medal. He achieved other honors through his life and was awarded Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament Scott Ulmer “Spirit of the Tournament” Award and Life Member of Moose Lodge 1534. Through his employment as a longshoreman, bus driver, body shop co-owner, professional hunter/trapper, or his later careers of a boat builder, catcher/processor, vessel owner, crabber and commercial fisherman, the legacy of his life is the fishing enterprise that he and his wife started for his children and grandchildren and future upcoming great grandchildren. If you ask any member of the family, they can probably tell you they took their first steps on a boat or most of their childhood memories involve being on a boat or fishing.

Roy was a dedicated man and the anchor of his family. He was an incredibly loving and gentle person. He loved life and he loved his family very much. He was held in high regards and was deeply devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. Roy’s passion was the sea and fishing was his legacy. Even past his retirement from captaining his own boat, he still went commercial fishing as a co-pilot through the summer of 2017, and his final king salmon trolling trip at the helm was May 18, 2021.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Betsy Cabana, siblings, Alfred Jr, Lloyd, Aileen, Joy, Patricia, and Clarence. He is survived by his wife, Doris Cabana; children, Holly and Philip Anderson, Leroy and Lori Cabana, Tim and Bari Cabana, Larry and Dawn Cabana, Jeff and Amber Cabana; grandchildren, Raey and Erin Johnson, Michael Anderson, Jeremy and Hilary Cabana, Jennifer Cabana and Munsey Kennon, Kami Cabana Nielsen and Nik Nielsen, Tanner Cabana, Tayla Cabana, Barren Cabana, Kannen Cabana, Forrest Cabana; great grandchildren, Kiley Anderson, Ester Cabana, Jaelynn Kennon, Daniel Kennon, Drew Kennon, Hazel Cabana, Izabella Anderson, Henry Cabana, Irene Cabana, Morgan Kennon, Jaxton Kennon, Simon Cabana and Baby Nielsen.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life gathering to be held Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, from 2-4 p.m. at 67521 Walter Thomas Rd, Homer, Alaska. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Homer. Please visit hospiceofhomer.org and click participate then donate for instructions on donations or call (907) 235-6899.

Special thanks to Cherie Inglis, Mercedes Stokes, Mike Amberg, Hospice of Homer, SPH Home Health, SPH Family Care Clinic, Kachemak Medical Group, Homer Police Department, and Best Western Bidarka Inn.

Please send personal condolences to Cabana Family, PO Box 3388, Homer, AK 99603.

Fishing on the Sea

A Tribute to Roy

I didn’t want to talk about it.

I didn’t care to share

my life’s final chapter

sitting in the captain’s chair.

I love my family dearly

so, I didn’t want to go

to the fishing grounds above

to be with others loved.

Those that went before me

to chum the waters ripe,

for prepping the golden waters

of our final rendezvous site.

I heard their cries the last few days,

they said they landed more

they couldn’t wait to see me

once I left the shore.

My hand is at the helm now

as we troll the forever sea

the mates are yelling “fish on!”

Can you picture me?

With laughter and love,

I travel with my crew,

forever spotting jumpers and following the run,

I will be near to all of you while fishing in the sky.

“Turn it loose” are the final words

you will ever hear from me,

know that means go forth, I love you, let’s

go fishing on the sea.