Daily Sitka Sentinel

Ella May St. Clair

Ella May St. Clair of Hoonah passed away on March 2, 2013, at the Alaska Native Medical Center Hospital in Anchorage at the age of 54.
Her death was due to progressive (acute) liver failure, a condition she struggled with in her later adult life.
She was born Oct. 26, 1958, in Juneau to Adeline (Pratt) and Kelly St. Clair, who made their home in Hoonah. She was the fifth of 11 children in the St. Clair family. She was Kudoilik belonging to Deisheetaan Raven Beaver Needle Fish House, Kaagwaantaa Yadi.
Ella attended Hoonah schools, graduating May 1, 1976, and later attended college in Seattle for a year and a half. Ella worked at State of Alaska government offices in various administrative positions for the next few years. 
   The St. Clair family was very active in the Salvation Army. At Easter they would have a traditional morning breakfast celebrated at their home. All were invited.  Ella and her brothers were all excellent cooks and together made it a memorable event. Many residents of Hoonah will remember them.
Her brother Dale was her mentor and guardian, a true caring spirit in many of her life experiences. When he died it took her a long time to find her way home.
Ella was married twice. Most recently Bob Wagner was Ella’s soul mate, her spouse for 13 years. Anyone who came to their home was welcome.  In Bob’s words, “We worked together, we played together, and we prayed together.”
    Ella was an avid reader and Bob could gauge their success on a week’s fishing trip by the number of books she could read. One or two books were possibly a good trip. Anything over five books it was time to go home.
Ella loved to shrimp. At first she thought they looked and acted like little grasshoppers. Ella was completely involved no matter what the weather. She coined a new word – instead of “heading” shrimp, it was “necking” shrimp and that’s what it was.
She loved the outdoors and she loved being with her many friends.  Ella had orders for fresh baked bread, at times more than she could handle but if you were lucky you were in for a treat.  
  At the time of her death, Ella was attended by her mother Adeline, her daughter Katie and Bob Wagner as well as other family and friends.
Ella leaves behind daughter Katie Lewis and her spouse Kyle Williams and a handsome 9-year-old grandson, Kaleb Sisikin.
Also surviving Ella are her bothers Aaron and his wife Mary of Montana; Frank (now in Anchorage) and his kids Sam and Matthew; Earl and his wife Penny of Juneau and their beautiful daughter Tasheena; and Calvin and his wife Brandy of Oregon. Ella’s sister Sherrlyn and spouse Jon Stein of Juneau also survive.   
     Ella will be dearly missed by others who loved her:  special aunt Patricia and Bruce Mill of Soldotna, Shirley and Keith Kendall who were with Ella at the hospital as was Betsy James, Scarlet McGuire, Kyle Wark and his wife Lynsi, his brother Toby was in Sitka, the driver Nelson McGuire, Russell Ford and children Kelly, Alison and Jason of Juneau.
A number of Ella’s family preceded her in death: her father Kelly St. Clair Sr., brothers Kelly Jr., Dale, Lyle and Clifford; and her sister Doris.  
   The family offered appreciation to the hospital staff at Alaska Native Medical Center, and especially the Intensive Care Unit, for the credit shown for their vocation. “Professional attitudes and caring for another comes from the heart,” family said. “Thank you all, Mandy, Rachel, Brooke, Evelyn, David, Don, Angie, Tracy, Anna, Eric, Susan and so many others.” 
   Services for Ella May St. Clair are to be held at the Salvation Army Church from 10:30 to 11: 30 a.m. Saturday, April 13. Lieutenant Liane Newcomb will be officiating the service and offering the eulogy.
At noon Ella’s ashes will be buried next to her brother Dale.  “We ask that only family members and close relatives attend,” the family said. “From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. we will have a joint reception and 40-day thanksgiving celebration of Ella’s life and happenings, as she requested.