Gerry Arleta (Sexten) Young
Gerry Arleta (Sexten) Young, of Anchorage, a former Sitka resident, died peacefully, family at her side, on March 27, 2017. She was 77.
Gerry was born to George and Isabelle (Browne) Sexten on Nov. 20, 1939. In 1957, she enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan University where she met Chuck Young the very first day of class in Religion 101. Four years later, on June 17, 1961, they married, in Waukegan, Ill. Gerry earned her Ph.T. (Putting Hubby Through) while Chuck attended seminary and earned a doctor of ministry degree. On Oct. 27, 1963, their daughter Allison Anne was born, and on Jan. 24, 1965, their son Christopher arrived.
In 1961, Gerry began a teaching career in gifted and talented education with a specialty in environmental education. Her career helped keep the family in sailboats and islands at their beloved Kashe Lake in Ontario, Canada, and to move to Fairbanks in 1978. During her teaching career in Alaska, Gerry received many awards for her outstanding and innovative teaching, culminating in 1988 with her winning a candy apple red Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais International for her ground-breaking work with students on contributing data on acid rain and snow to NOAA’s database.
Gerry also became known as the “Dinosaur Lady” in Fairbanks, working with UA paleontology faculty, providing leadership on dinosaur excavations on the Colville River, developing an Alaska Teacher Training Program for Alaska Dinosaur Education, as well as cataloging dinosaur bones at the UAF Museum. During all of this she constantly supported Chuck’s work in prison ministry in United Methodist churches in Illinois and Alaska, and in United Campus Ministry at UAF.
In 1993, Gerry retired from teaching, only to find herself deeply immersed as a volunteer in Sitka, where the Youngs moved when Chuck became the pastor at Sitka United Methodist Church. Her second career as a community volunteer culminated when she had the experience of releasing a bald eagle that she helped rehabilitate.
In 2001, the Youngs moved to Cooper Landing, where they built their dream home near Kenai Lake. Gerry loved living at the lake, enjoying walks with Chuck and their dog, Angel along the lake, painting, quilting, attending church at the Moose Pass United Methodist Church, and delighting in visits with Allison and her husband, Barron McLain, and their daughter Emily; and Christopher and his wife, Carla, and their children Allison Renee and Roscoe.
In 2012, Chuck and Gerry moved to Chester Park in Anchorage. In 2013, Gerry became a resident of Serenity Circle Assisted Living Home where she received loving and extremely competent attention until her death.
During her teaching and volunteering careers, Gerry influenced, in very significant ways, more than 10,000 students and adults with her creativity, multitude of talents, and magnetic and charming personality. Gerry and Chuck were married 55 years during which she was his shining light and best friend, while also guiding and supporting their children, Allison and Christopher.
Gerry’s life will be celebrated at St. John United Methodist Church, in Anchorage, 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8. A reception will follow. All are invited. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Southern Poverty Law Center or Bread for the World.
