Mickey Jack Endsley
Longtime Nikiski resident Mickey Jack Endsley, 67, died Thursday, March 11, 2010 with his family by his side after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was 67.
Visitations will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 19 at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai. Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20 at the First Baptist Church, 12815 Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai.
Mr. Endsley was born May 21, 1942 to Jack and Ethabell Endsley in Roxton, Texas, leaving Texas and living for a while in California. He first came to Alaska in 1955, making Alaska his home, only leaving to find work when things were slow in Alaska. He graduated high school and soon after joined the U.S. Army. He served in the U.S. Army in 1960 until he was honorably discharged in 1963 from the Army 7th Infantry in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
In 1970 while working in Lima, Ohio he met his wife, Joyce and after a two-year courtship they were married in Paris, Texas in 1972. They were married for 38 years. They returned to Alaska with daughter Patty and son Rickey in June 1973. Joyce's oldest son Michael and his family moved to Alaska in 1976 to work in Valdez.
Mr. Endsley was a member of Asbestos Workers Local No. 97 for 40 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Kenai. Mr. Endsley loved singing special music in the church and also loved singing for the praise team. He enjoyed playing pinochle, cribbage, and was a member and president of the Nikiski Senior Center until he had to resign due to health problems. Mr. Endsley also was a member of the American Legion Post No. 20, Moose No. 1942, Lions Club, and American Cribbage Association and the Pioneers of Alaska. He also played pinochle three times a week.
His family wrote, "Mickey was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to everyone he met. Many have received one of his big bear hugs. He was truly loved and will be truly missed."
Mr. Endsley was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack Endsley and Art Endsley; sister, Joyce Perry; and brother in-law, Louis McCloud.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years of Nikiski; stepsons, Michael E. Hancock of Kenai and Rickey L. Hancock of Anchorage; stepdaughter, Patty A. Newman of Anchorage; sister, Ruth McCloud of Anderson, Calif.; granddaughters Sarah A. Whitney and her husband, Charlie, of Sterling, Katrina M. Hancock of Ohio, Chrystena L. Bahr, Caryn L. Bahr and Leighsa M. Newman; grandson, Edde L. Newman; great-grandchildren, Hailey Whitney, Benjamin Whitney, Alexzya Bahr, Yazmhine Bahr, Zaeryn Bahr, Dominus Simpson, Jayston Newman, Jaaron Newman, Destenie Newman, Mykael Newman, Kyara Newman, and Nevaeh Newman, all of Anchorage; and many nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Mickey Endsley Memorial Fund, C/O Asbestos Workers Local No. 97, 407 Denali Street, Room 303, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.