Annie Helen Attatayuk Merritt

Annie H. Merritt was born on Jan. 2, 1948 in Teller Mission, Alaska. She died and went
 home to be with her Lord and
 Savior Jesus Christ on April 29, 2016 in Fairbanks.

She was a caregiver in Senior Center Homes in Idaho and Washington. She traveled all over Alaska, Washington, Idaho and lower-48. She was always happy, 
smiling, loving and a very generous person. She was always willing to share what she had and give to others around her. She cared about everyone. She always tried to help her family and friends. She loved going fishing, camping, doing arts and crafts, beading and her favorite hobby was playing Bingo. She loved and was very proud of her Native Eskimo/Russian heritage. She will be greatly missed by everyone.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Naomi Attatayuk, son Leeland Attatayuk, son Conan Jaycox, husband Byron Merritt, sisters Stella Gladys, Ada, Alberta, Darlene and brother Richard.

She is survived by her daughters Stella Castro of Anchorage; Karla Ann Livingston of Cleo Springs, OK; and Naomi (Jason) Barker of Burlington, WA; caregiver-George Attatayuk of Fairbanks, AK; siblings John Attatayuk of Teller, AK; Rueben Attatayuk of Anchorage, AK; Jenny Auliye of
Anchorage, AK; and Betty (James) Sinnok of Anchorage, AK, also 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, numerous family and friends in Anchorage, Wales, Nome, Teller, Shishmaref and Brevig, Alaska.

Annie’s final burial will be in Nome, Alaska with the Attatayuk family.

Her funeral was held at Alaska Native Lutheran Church at 1420 Cordova St. Anchorage, AK on May 5, with Pastor Lisa Hackler officiating the service. A graveside service will be held in Nome, and she will be buried with the Attatayuk family. Pallbearers will be Darrin Iyatunkguk, Dale Ahnangnatoguk, Aalike Kowchee and Tim Kost.

Special thanks to Pastor Lisa Hackler and Alaska Native Lutheran Church of Anchorage, BSNC, ASNA, Fairbanks Legacy Funeral Home (Chapel of the Chimes) and Director Amanda Hall, Anchorage Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home and Director Steven Gray, Sitnasuak Native Corporation, Josephine Smith with ASNA, and UIC, Mary and Ada Bergamaschi of Nome for helping take care of her final burial arrangements in Nome and to the church in Nome.