Daily Sitka Sentinel

Services Scheduled For Kevin A. Peterson, 36

Kevin Andrew Peterson

Kevin Andrew Peterson was born February 4, 1985, at Sitka Community Hospital, the son of Verna Fern (Smith) and Loren Frederick Peterson.  He was found unresponsive on April 8, 2021, at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 36.

Kevin lived most of his life in Sitka, graduating from Sitka High School in 2003.  For his Senior Project, he created a band with friends Thomas Casey, Christopher Casey, Dylan Gebhart and drummer Emily Corso, who in turn encouraged Kevin to do more than the vocals and take up percussion. Later he performed with a local group, Three North, as a drummer, which was a highlight that he thought would lead to a career in music. Kevin was a constant entertainer always dancing his way through this life as others witnessed his love for life. 

He worked for the Daily Sitka Sentinel as a router for a few years then moved on to McDonald’s, Theobroma Chocolates, and the Transportation Security Administration. He joined the Alaska Army National Guard having had the opportunity to be called up for deployment overseas, which did not happen; he was placed as stateside support.

He left Sitka in 2006 to pursue life on his own in Oregon and then California, working as private security at malls and for hospitals and private clubs.  In California, he continued to seek work as an actor.

Kevin was well-loved, and was concerned with the well-being of others in difficult situations; he would be there to help, no matter what. 

Kevin is survived by his parents Loren F. and Verna F. (Smith) Peterson, Sitka; brother Loren A. Peterson, Sitka; sister Margaret M. Peterson, of Sitka and Fairbanks; brother Dwayne R. Smith, his wife Ralauni (Spousta), and their children Jayce, Kamia and Liam, of Hope Mills, North Carolina; grandmother Karen M. Moore-Kosha (Ronald Kosha)  of Tucson, Arizona; and great-grandmother Fern M. (Benedict) Moore, of Klamath Falls, Oregon.

He also is survived by aunts Kristine A. (Smith) and her husband, Lawrence Jorgensen, Anchorage; Jeanny Smith of Juneau and her children, Ryan, Elisha, and Samuel Wharton; and Gerri L. (Smith) and husband Allen Butner of Juneau, and their children, Brad and  Mariah, Juneau, and Tera (Matthew) Ames of Idaho and son Felix; paternal uncle Breck Atkins Peterson of Pennsylvania; aunt Joan (Peterson) McCormick of Lubbock, Texas, and children Wendy, Julie, Christy and Marcy; and uncle Dennis McCormick of Chehalis, Washington. He is also survived by many other aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Kevin was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Horace Burgess Smith, great-grandfather Lewis I. Moore, paternal great-grandmother Marie Peterson, and grandparents Margaret Adeline (Weber) and Clyde Atkin Peterson

A celebration of his life/potluck will be held 3-8 p.m. Friday, June 11, at Halibut Point Recreation Main Shelter. 

Donations can be made to a charity of your choice in the name of Kevin Andrew Peterson. Contact Verna Peterson (907)747-6917 or Margaret Peterson (520) 442-9082 regarding celebration of life arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at 3208 Halibut Point Road, Space 3, Sitka, Alaska 99835.