Elizabeth "Bessie" johnson Fred
I Bessie Fred dances with Angoon Dancers at Celebration 2008, Juneau |
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February 11, 1927 - June 20, 2008
In July 2007, I went to Angoon to deliver a
woven robe. Although I had no intentions of doing any
Chilkat weaving, my friend Dan Johnson had made arrangements
with the Angoon Senior Center to have me do a demonstration
in Chilkat weaving. Along with about 8 other women,
Bessie was one who stood out amongst them - she had
a spunky, upbeat attitude with that distinct sense of
humor of our elderly Tlingit women! - she was the main
inspiration why I returned to Angoon a few weeks later
to teach a 2-week introductory course in weaving. With
Assistant Instructor, Shgen George, we had about 15
students - we had a blast!
Juneau resident Elizabeth "Bessie" Johnson
Fred died June 20, 2008, in Mount Edgecumbe. She was
81.
Leegeeyax and Luxshaadoosti of the Kaagwaantaan Drum
House, she was born Feb. 11, 1927, in Angoon, to Elizabeth
(Williams) and William G. Johnson. She attended elementary
school in Juneau, grade school in Douglas and Skagway
and high school at Wrangell Institute. She was raised
in Juneau with two sisters and three brothers after
her father died in 1934.
On April 23, 1946, she was married by her uncle, the
Rev. Samuel G. Johnson, to Matthew J. Fred Sr. in Angoon.
Matthew and Elizabeth were parents to 12 children -
seven daughters and five sons.
She was superintendent of the St. John the Baptist Sunday
School for 10 years and a member of the St. John the
Baptist choir and the Songsters Brigade.
She was an active member of the Angoon Alaska Native
Sisterhood Camp 7 and held offices of president, recording
secretary, corresponding secretary, financial secretary
and camp counselor until her death. She also was a delegate
to several Grand Camp Conventions.
She was vice chairwoman of school boards for Mount Edgecumbe
and Wrangell (1971-1975), was on the Advisory Parent
Board for Mount Edgecumbe (1971-1975) and was a liaison
with students for the Wrangell Institute School Board.
She received training at Mount Edgecumbe school and
went on to become an alcohol and drug counselor volunteer
for 25 years.
She was chairwoman for the Angoon District state elections
since 1975, and Lt. Gov. Lowell Thomas Jr. appointed
her as a registration official. She also was appointed
by Lt. Gov. Terry Miller as a registration official
for the Angoon precinct and was appointed to the housing
committee board for the Angoon Housing Improvement program.
She lobbied in Washington, D.C., with her husband and
other elders on April and May 1979 and July 22,1980.
She was very proud to have been one of the people to
present to President Jimmy Carter with a beaded vest,
her family said.
She was a member of the Xootzidaakwaan Dance group and
a beading instructor at the Chatham School District.
Family members said she loved to sew blankets and bead
traditional designs, pick berries and preserve jams
and jellies, as well as smoke salmon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew Fred
Sr.; daughters, Sally and Patricia Fred; and son, Calvin
Fred.
She is survived by her children, Marlene Zuboff and
Maxine Thompson, of Angoon, Margaret Ivory and Francis
Klotze, of Anchorage, Lillian Fred, of Juneau, Matthew
Fred Jr., Michael, Gilbert and Eugene Fred, of Angoon,
and Marti Fred, of Anchorage; one brother, William G.
Johnson, of Anchorage; and 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Honorary pall bearers are George Bennett, Herman Davis,
Leonard Demmert Sr., Cyril George Sr., Garfield George,
Dan Johnson Jr., Paul Marks, Ray Peck, Paul Willis and
Alan Zuboff.
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