Carolyn Humphreys

Alaska Carolyn Jane Tucker Humphreys, a longtime Alaska resident, died Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. She was 77. Carolyn was born November 23, 1936 in Greeneville, Tenn., to Willie and Clarence "Cooter" Tucker. She graduated from Greeneville High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va. She later received a master's degree in the field of Reading from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She taught in Virginia, Florida and Iceland. Carolyn and her husband, Richard lived in Iceland for five years where she taught kindergarten. They travelled Europe extensively while there, including Greece and Ireland. They also visited Antarctica and Churchill, Canada to view Polar Bears. She moved to Anchorage in 1969 and was hired at Northern Lights Elementary. She also taught at Scenic Park, Tudor and North Star schools. Her last eight years were with Chapter One as a Reading and Language Arts Specialist at Denali Elementary. She retired in 1995 with 25 years in the Anchorage School District. Professionally, she was a member of and held various offices in Alpha Delta Kappa and CARTA (for retired teachers). She loved to read and play bridge, but her favorite was time spent with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Richard and her brother, James Tucker. Carolyn is survived by her son, Dr. Steven Craig Humphreys and wife, Julie; beloved grandchildren, Grant, Caroline, and Gabrielle Humphreys, all of Soldotna, Alaska; cousin, Adelle Cooter, of Andersonville, Tenn.; niece, Christine Tucker Kelley; nephew, Kenneth Tucker; great-nieces and nephews, Luke Kelly, Ben Kelley, Lauren Tucker and Grace Tucker; and sisters-in-law, Josephine Tucker, of Greeneville, Tenn., and Helen Thompson, of Charlotte, N.C. A celebration of life will be held 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014, at St. John's Methodist Church in Anchorage, where she was an active member. A private family inurnment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Greeneville, Tenn. The family will host a reception at Trinity United Methodist Church in the Grace Parlor (524 Tusculum Blvd., Greeneville) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Alaska Zoo, the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank or the charity of your choice. Please visit Carolyn's obituary and sign her online guestbook at www.alaskanfuneral.com.