FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Alaskan Grilled in D.C. Over Climate Science
26 Mar 2024 14:51

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]

Faster Internet Speeds In Rural Schools OK'd
26 Mar 2024 13:53

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]

Native Words Gathered In Environment Studies
26 Mar 2024 13:52

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska,  [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Police Blotter
26 Mar 2024 13:49

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Community Happenings
26 Mar 2024 13:48

Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m.  [ ... ]

Sac Roe Herring Fishery Opens in Hayward
25 Mar 2024 15:30

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]

Projects on the Table For Cruise Tax Funds
25 Mar 2024 15:28

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]

Braves Take Second at State after Close Loss
25 Mar 2024 15:23

By Sentinel Staff
    Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]

City League Games Continue
25 Mar 2024 15:11

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Esther Lillian Liberty

Esther Lillian Liberty

Esther Lillian Liberty passed away peacefully at her home on June 7, 2018, lovingly surrounded by close family. She was 79.

 Esther was born on February 28, 1939, in Juneau, the eldest daughter of Harvey and Marietta Williams Sr. She was Raven, T’akdeintaan of the Kaa Shaayi Hit (Severed Head House) and her Tlingit name was Seiyeikú.

Esther grew up in Sitka and graduated from Sitka High School. She moved to Juneau in 1988 and worked for the Alaska Marine Highway System from 1990 until retiring in 2001. 

Esther truly lived life to the fullest through a simple life with simple pleasures, from going out for a drive to enjoy nature, to just watching people as God’s beautiful creations.

She was a fighter, a courageous, strong woman who always had a positive outlook in life, just as she wanted everyone to have. She loved everything purple as it was her favorite color, from her trinkets to clothes, and even her nails. Ever so thoughtful, she would never forget to shop for others while she was out of town.

Some of her favorite times out and about were to watch movies, eat at restaurants, and have Easter brunches with family. She had always loved and treasured family gatherings especially on Thanksgiving Days and Christmases, and enjoyed cooking; she also made the best potato salad.

She always made sure to have Christmas presents for everyone, especially the kids in the family. Esther loved to spend time with all her grandchildren, especially the youngest, Samuel, as well as all her great-grandchildren.

She loved to travel and explore, most importantly to visit and spend time with family. “We miss you, Gramma.” 

Left to honor Esther and remember her love are her children Carl Liberty Sr. of Sitka, Virgil (Bel) Liberty of Juneau and Michelle Liberty of Spokane, Washington; grandchildren Carl “Milton” Liberty Jr., Samuel Liberty, Michael (Janna) Liberty, Natasha (Gabe) Johnson, and Shelby Pruett; great-grandchildren Logan, Aurora, Azrial, Tyren, Tavyn and Lilliana; siblings Harvey (Kathi) Williams Jr., Marion Berry, and Walleen Williams; Virgil’s mother-in-law Rose Calunsag; brother-in-law Bill Trivett; cousin Glenn (Liz) Howard, nephews and nieces Harvey (Shana) Williams III, Todd (Kirsten) Berry, Ron (Mi) Berry, Sheryl DesBiens, Glenda (Tim) Drevas, Tara (Dale) Hume, YéilYádi Olson, Marsha (Allen) Heilbrun, Nicole (Kevin) Fischbeck, Kimberly (Ty) Brill, Jamie Trivett, Michael (Jennifer) Williams, Kevin (Jessica) Williams, Daniel (Kim) Whitson, Daneen Whitson, Levi Harriman, Jessica Meacock, and Krista Meacock. 

She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Virgil Liberty Sr.; son Jay Liberty and daughter LaVon Liberty; her parents Harvey Sr. and Marietta Williams; Aunt Mabel Moy; brother George Williams; brother-in-law Gary Berry; sisters JoAnne Chartrand, Harvietta Olson and Dorothy Trivett; and niece Jodine Meacock.

To celebrate her life and memory, a service will be held at Word of Life Christian Church in Juneau 1-3 p.m. on June 30, 2018. Her ashes will be spread with those of her daughter, LaVon Liberty. 

“The family would like to give a special note of thanks to everyone from the hospice care, dialysis center, her favorite nurse Marilyn, Abby, Tammy, family, friends and coworkers who helped care for Esther during her last few moments with us,” the family wrote.

 

 

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

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