Van Cleave Price
Van Cleave Price Sept. 12, 1931 — May 13, 2016
Van was born the youngest of 11 children, in Barton N.M., to Mack and June Price.
He grew up on the family farm, plowing with both horse and tractor. He attended Albuquerque High School, and in 1951, he joined the Navy and spent three years seeing the world.
In 1951, he married Florence Miller; they had two daughters. Van worked in Albuquerque as a machinist. In 1965, the family moved to Homer to work at the Alaska Christian School. During that time, they adopted two sons.
Van and Florence’s marriage lasted 22 years. Van worked for Modern Builders, Sunny Service, Homer Police Department, Texaco and Northern Enterprises. He retired in 1997.
In 1983 Van married Jeannette Backstrand. He never met a stranger, and never met anyone he didn’t invite to join him at church.
Throughout his time in Alaska, he very active in Homer Christian Church. He was always generous with his things, time and talents. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmachining and four-wheeling.
However, he firmly believed that boats are not for sight-seeing — only fishing; because “you can’t eat a sight.” Van especially relished sharing stories from his adventures.
On a day when the sun was shining and the water was like glass Van came to rest in the Lord’s home port.
Van is preceded in death by his siblings, his daughter Joy Hockley, and his sons Stanley and Adam Price. He is survived by his wife Jeannette Price, daughter Gay(David) Fraker of Homer; son-in-law Rick Hockley of Rapid City S.D.; granddaughter Amy (Brad) Dunmire of Scottsbluff Neb.; Angie Fraker of Anchorage; Chris (Lori) Fraker of Homer; Nathaniel (Courtney) Hockley of Rapid City, S.D.; Matthew Hockley of Rapid City, S.D.; great-grandchildren, Peter, Naomi, Ethan, Katie, Harmony, Annika and Emily. Also many friends he made on his life’s journey to whom he was “Uncle Van.”
A memorial service will be held at Community Christian Church on Saturday, May 21, at 2 p.m. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 2867 Homer, AK, 99603.
Rick MacBean
HoWL Executive Director Rick MacBean died April 16, 2016. A mentor, role model and friend, Rick was devoted to the HoWL organization and its success.
He will be honored at 5:30 p.m. in a May 25 gathering upstairs at Alice’s Champagne Palace.
Please join us in celebrating his life. His presence will be greatly missed.