Mary Katherine Gallion

Mary Katherine "Mari" Gallion, 49, walked into the woods on her final adventure on Oct. 14, 2018. She was escorted to the trailhead by her son, Oberon and her closest friends, spending her final hours on this plane surrounded by love. An Alaskan since 1974, Mari was never one to let convention or other people's expectations define who she was going to be. She loved the outdoors, and rarely missed a day out on "her" trail by Eagle River, Alaska, with her beloved dogs, Esther and Gemma. Mari started playing the viola at the age of 10, and leveraged that traditional platform into non-traditional roles in folk, renaissance and Middle Eastern music. Jam sessions at Mari's house were spirited and joyful, and she was a member of several - often quirky - bands. Mari's son Oberon was born in 1998, and her experiences precipitated life-long advocacy for single mothers. She authored "The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy" and founded and ran the non-profit Single Mothers-to-Be Inc. Mari's affinity for language complemented a travel bug that started with a high school trip to Australia with the Anchorage Youth Symphony. She spent a year in Spain teaching English, and also spoke some French, German, Italian and Czech. Mari joins her mother, Sue Gallion; and her aunt, Dolores Baker, who prepared the trail earlier this year. She leaves her son, Oberon and his fiancee, Serena; father, Jack Gallion; sister, Irene Gallion; and many friends and extended family. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, at 6 p.m., at Awaken Church in Anchorage. Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/382749542267497/.