Claude C. Maney

Jun 15, 1927 -

Sep 4, 2021

Longtime, basically lifelong, Alaska resident Claude C. Maney passed away on Sept. 4, 2021, at Providence Hospital. He was 94 years old.

Claude was born June 15, 1927, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where he worked the farm growing tobacco and corn before he joined the Navy after graduating from high school and headed off to WWII.

He ended up being a Navy Seabee and was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock-CV19 from 1942 till 1944.

After his navy career, he got a job with a building contractor and ended up on Fire Island, Alaska, building communication facilities. While working on Fire Island, he ended up being reinstated into the Korean War. After the Korean War, he was hired by another building contractor who sent him to Naknek, Alaska, to help construct a new high school. While there he met and fell in love with Elvira, "Elli," and they married in 1952 in Naknek.

They moved to Anchorage in 1953, where they bought a small house on Eagle St., which was on the outskirts of Anchorage back then. Claude adopted Elli's two little boys Marty and Rodney. Claude soon became employed for Matanuska Maid Dairy, where he delivered milk to stores for 25 years. In 1957, their daughter Sheryl was born, and in 1959, son Duane came along. Claude dabbled in real estate and ended up with several rentals in town, as well as other properties in the state. He was known as the true Mr. Fix It and maintained all his rentals by himself. He even built a new home in South Anchorage between 1971-72. He retired at 53, and bought a gillnet commercial fishing boat in Naknek where he and his son Duane fished five seasons. After that, he worked off and on for a few years mainly doing carpentry projects for friends and relatives.

Claude was an avid hunter and sport fisherman. He loved the Alaska outdoors and spent a lot of time in it. During his late retirement years he flew with a couple of his buddies to remote secret fishing holes. It was very entertaining when he would tell his never-ending hunting and fishing stories.

Claude was an avid gardener, too, who was known most for his ability to grow gorgeous big dahlias. He was also known for his beautiful cottonwood tree cross section clocks that he made.

Claude was truly a wonderful person, who touched and left his mark on many people's lives. His humorous and flirtatious personality will be missed by all, along with that crooked grin.

Claude is preceded in death by his wife, Elli; son, Rodney; grandson, William; mother, Mae; father, Charles; sisters, Alice, Ethel, Emogene and Pearl; and brothers, Oliver and Hunter. He is survived by his daughter, Sheryll; sons, Marty, Duane, Rod and Lory; granddaughters, Kelly, Robin, Myra, Chris and Verneese; grandsons, Scott and Ken; 17 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.

At this time, a memorial service will not be held for Claude, and we suggest that everyone have their own private service for him. Both the ashes of Claude and Elli are planned to be scattered next spring in a special Alaska wilderness area that was previously picked by the both of them.

For a full obituary, please visit legacyalaska.com.