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Former Angoon resident Connie Suzanna Croasmun died at 7 p.m. Aug. 25, 2008, at Mount Edgecumbe Hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was 55.

Born Aug. 24, 1953, on St. George Island to Vivian and Isaiah Merculief Sr., she was of the Eagle Wolf clan. She married John Croasmun Sr. on June 2, 1990. They were married for 18 years. She lived in Angoon since 1982.

She enjoyed having a good time with her friends and family. Her family said she always had a smile on her face.

"As a nurturer by nature, when she saw children in need of love or reaching out for attention, she responded with a loving smile and a warm hug, which brought many children that weren't hers into her family and heart," they said.

Her hobbies were baking bread, picking berries, bringing a smile to everyone's face, having a good time with friends, playing bingo and traveling with her husband. She was the best bread maker in Angoon, which we all will miss, her family said. Her sense of humor, quick wit and compassion for people, was noticed by many, they said.

She made many connections through the jobs and people she empowered. Some of her careers were with B.I.A. of Seattle, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (in Angoon and Juneau), Kootznoowoo Inc. (Angoon and Juneau), Taquan Air and seasonal work at Favorite Bay sports fishing lodge. She was a sales representative for Amway products, a registered nurse, volunteer as an emergency trauma technician and at the fire department.

Her family said she will be dearly missed by the Angoon community and all who had the opportunity to meet her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Vivian Johnson; stepfather, Walter Johnson; father, Isaiah Merculief Sr.; sisters, Nancy Lott and Virginia Merculief; and brother, Isaiah Merculief Jr.

She is survived by her sister, Audrey Olivit and husband, Rod, of Juneau; David Merculief, of Angoon; husband, John Croasmun Sr., of Angoon; children, Virginia Bigelow and husband, Jerry, of Juneau, Kerin Moore, of Juneau, Edward Bean, of Anchorage, Minnie Merculief, Anasia Merculief, John Jr., Vivian and Michael Croasmun; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.