Juanita R. LeFever

Mar 26, 1926 -

Aug 19, 2020

Longtime Alaska resident Juanita R. LeFever, 94, passed peacefully away at her daughter's house in Anchorage on Aug. 19, 2020. Juanita was born on March 26, 1926, to Ray and Robena Gallup in Sylvania, Ohio, and spent most of her childhood on a farm outside of Lyons, Ohio.

In 1947, Juanita graduated from nursing school in Toledo, Ohio, and took up her first position as a Registered Nurse at the Toledo Hospital. In 1950, seeking adventure, Juanita came to Alaska and worked as an RN for the Alaska Native Health Service in Sitka, Tanana, Bethel, Dillingham, Barrow and finally Anchorage, where she met Darrel LeFever. She married Darrel in 1959, and they lived and raised three daughters in Anchorage. After leaving nursing, Juanita became the bookkeeper and co-owner of businesses in Anchorage that she and Darrel ran together: Crankshaft Service, Auto Parts Service, Ace Auto Supply, and Central Automotive Warehouse. Juanita and Darrel sold their business ventures in 1994, when they retired.

In her spare time Juanita enjoyed sewing and needlecrafts, making pies, berry picking and traveling. She volunteered for many years at the Gilded Cage, the Anchorage Museum Gift Shop and for the Anchorage Board of Elections.

After the passing of Darrel in 1999, Juanita enjoyed remarkable health. She lived in her own home and drove her car until the age of 93. During widowhood, Juanita kept to a regular routine of exercising at the Alaska Club five days a week, shopping at the grocery store every day, visiting her hairdresser on Saturdays, attending church on Sundays, doing two hours of needlepoint each morning, reading novels, taking care of her dog and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Juanita is survived by her brother, Richard Gallup of Lyons; daughter, Shirley LeFever of Boston, Mass.; daughter and son-in-law, Ellen LeFever and Anthony Wood of Houston, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Wendell Wright of Anchorage; and grandchildren, Justin Wood of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Roxanne Wood of South Woodstock, Vt.

Due to recent travel restrictions a memorial service for Juanita will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent c/o Cindy Wright, 200 West 34th Avenue #1062, Anchorage, AK 99503.