Gerry Macomber

Gerry Macomber, age “29” passed away peacefully at home on February, 24, 2023 surrounded by family. She was born November 15, 1945, in Tooele, Utah to Richard and Ethel Penwarden. Growing up the family lived in the Pacific Northwest where she chased after her big sisters. When she was six, they moved to Alaska and lived in Anchorage, Juneau, and Sika where she enjoyed cheerleading, singing, and dancing.

She married her longtime friend and love, Curt Macomber in January of 1976, who preceded her in death in 2019. Gerry and Curt’s love story began at age 12 meeting in Sitka in Junior High School. They reconnected in Juneau where they were married 18 years later and raised 4 wonderful children together.

Curt was a Captain in the Air Force, which took them many places. They finally settled down in Fairbanks in 1982 where Gerry had a full life as a mother, homemaker, and worked as an office manager and in retail.

She loved all babies and met no stranger. As an avid cribbage and triominos player she was a pretty good trash talker and won more games than she lost. She also enjoyed camping, singing along loudly with the radio on long road trips and gardening taking great pride in her peonies.

Gerry was known for getting people riled up by telling it like she saw it. Headstrong, there was no holding back her opinion, whether you asked for it or not. She was great at rallying family and friends, bringing everyone together. She will be remembered as a sensitive, gracious woman always ready to give guidance and support to those she cared about in any way possible.

Her family grieves her loss, but they take comfort knowing that Curt and Gerry are together again. She was also preceded in death by her sister Mikell Lucero of Juneau, AK.

She is survived by her sister Jill Bryson of Port Ludlow, WA; children and their partners Karie Macomber-Hawk and Bruce Hawk, Jeni Macomber and Brad Peacock, Jeff and Danelle Macomber (JT Mac), of Fairbanks and Kendell Macomber of Anchorage, AK; 10 grandchildren, one great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind a slightly dysfunctional family that she was very proud of - all of whom she loved very deeply. 

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