Carol Paddock Jorgensen
Former Juneau resident Carol Paddock Jorgensen died suddenly on Sept. 3, 2009, in Virginia. She was 63.
Jorgensen was born Oct. 29, 1945, in Anchorage, Ala. to Raymond Paddock Sr. and Betty Paddock. She, named Shuk de Heit, was from the Eagle/Killer Whale Fin House of Klukwan, granddaughter to Quagent, Anna Tagook Paddock, and niece of Chief Donawok of the Lukaax.adi from Yandestake, near Haines.
She spent her adolescent years in Minnesota, returning most summers to Alaska. Her government career began at age 17 working for the CIA. She married Eugene McQueen, and they reared their sons, Curtis, Louis and Sean, while serving in the Foreign Service in U.S. Embassies of Austria, Bolivia and Afghanistan.
While in Bolivia, the family adopted their "Little Angel Kimmie." After the McQueens returned from Afghanistan in the mid-1970s, she began a new career with Sealaska Corp., then became manager of Avon State Sales.
Later, she married Peter Jorgensen, Inupiat, who was adopted into the Lukaax.adi, Raven/Sockeye Clan during Chief Donawok's memorial koo.eex. With his encouragement and support, her leadership accomplishments included working as Pelican city manager, executive director of the Arctic Marine Resources Commission and vice president for the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society.
With the U.S. Forest Service she was the assistant supervisor, Tongass National Forest and National Tribal Manager, facilitating programs with Native American and Alaska Native Nations. Most recently, she was director of the American Indian Environmental Office, supporting 572 recognized tribes in the United States. She rose to Senior Executive Services with the U.S. Government and earned a MPA from American University.
Jorgensen was a member of the Juneau Alaska Native Sisterhood, Glacier Valley Camp 70. She also served as grand secretary and grand camp president during 1985-86, and because of the status of that election she served on the Executive Committee for life. Her journey in life was to advocate for the peoples of her homeland and other tribes. She received the Elizabeth Peratrovich Governor's Award in 1988 for developing cross-cultural communications for the Alaska Fish and Game when serving as deputy director of subsistence.
She also was a deeply devout Catholic, becoming a member of the Juneau St. Elias Carmelite Group - Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites and at St. John of the Cross in Annandale, Va.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kimberly McQueen; mother, Betty Paddock; and siblings, Shirley Paddock Davis and Ray Paddock Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Peter Jorgensen; father, Ray Paddock Sr. and wife, Edna; brother, Jim Paddock; sons, Curtis, Louie and Sean McQueen, Tom and Gregory Jorgensen; daughters-in-law, Joanie McQueen and Leilani Knight McQueen; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; aunt, Connie Paddock; the extended Paddock family of cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends and colleagues.
Pallbearers will be Curtis McQueen, Louie McQueen, Sean McQueen, Callen Richert, Ray Paddock III, Shane Paddock, Nicholas J. Nelson and Norval E. Nelson III.
A traditional Tlingit service and Alaska Native Sisterhood memorial will occur at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the John Hope Building on Willoughby Avenue. A Catholic funeral Mass will take place at noon Friday, Sept. 18, at the Juneau Cathedral. Spreading of her ashes will follow at a later date.
Family may be reached at cjmcqueen@gci.net for messages.