Anna Marie Matlock, daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away, at the age of 62, on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, with her husband and children by her side. A Celebration of Life will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, at 3 p.m. at Eagle River Grace Church. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made in Anna's name to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., to the Sarcoma Department at www.fredhutch.org to help those battling sarcoma today and in the future.She was born on April 26, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minn. As a child of a military family, she lived in many places, including Japan. Her fondest childhood memories were being able to spend the summers at her grandparents' farm in Ashville, N.C.The military brought them to Alaska when she was 10 and she experienced the 1964 Earthquake. Her family left and returned again, driving the Alcan when she was 16, and moved to Eagle River, Alaska. She met the love of her life, Byron Matlock at Chugiak High School. They were married on April 5, 1974. After living in the Chugiak/Eagle River area and a remote fish hatchery, they built a house together in Birchwood. In this home they raised their four children, gardened, loved and cherished many pets and farm animals, as well as hosted decades of friend and family gatherings.After high school, she earned her Associate of Science in Nursing from University of Alaska Anchorage. She worked for a short time as a nurse until having her first daughter. In 1984, she went back to work and began a 31-year career at Providence Alaska, retiring as a head administrator. There wasn't a hall she couldn't walk down without co-workers wanting stop and talk. She was instrumental in creating several support resources for nurses throughout the hospital. During her career she completed both her Bachelor and Master in Nursing Science.Anna enjoyed spending time with her entire family traveling, hiking, camping, biking, riding in the Ranger, skiing and taking her beloved goldens to the dog park. She had a passion for gardening and her green thumb produced an abundance of flowers and vegetables each year. She was a skilled quilter and cook. She enjoyed reading books set in the country, especially England. This past spring she was able to have her dream come true of seeing the beautiful landscape with her own eyes as she and Byron touredEngland. They had two more memorable trips this past year and adventures aroundAlaska.She is survived by her husband, Byron Matlock; children, Tania Dennis (Jason), Travis Matlock, Larissa McHaney (Michael) and Aaron Matlock; grandchildren, Logan Dennis, Kiley Dennis and Lilly McHaney, all of Alaska; as well as her mother, Frances Wilson of Coos Bay, Ore.; and brother, Lee Israel of Anchorage. She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Israel.Arrangements have been entrusted to Legacy Funeral Homes Bragaw Chapel.