Don Pegues Obituary

Tenakee Springs, Alaska, lost a much loved and respected pillar of the community January 15, 2022, when Donald Haley Pegues passed away at the age of 95 at his home in Tenakee due to complications stemming from cancer. 

Don was born December 14, 1926, in Juneau, Alaska and was christened Andrew Douglas Austin III. His mother, Dorothy Elaine Haley, and his father, Andrew Douglas Austin Jr., divorced when he was a toddler. Dorothy subsequently married John E. "Jack" Pegues. After Dorothy's marriage to Jack, Dorothy gave Don the name Donald Haley Pegues in honor of her late brother. Don used that name for the rest of his life. The oldest of seven sons, all born and raised in Juneau, Don and his brothers were bright, curious, rambunctious boys known around Star Hill as the 'thundering herd'. 

Don, a 4th generation Alaskan, came from a family of early pioneers who worked in the mining and fur trading industries during the "Russian days". His great grandfather, Nicholas Haley, established Alaska's first hard-rock gold mine in the Sitka area. In 1897, his grandmother, Edna Sprague, came from Minnesota to teach in Juneau where she met and married Don's grandfather, Ed Haley. Don grew up in a family of newspaper journalists, editors and publishers.  His parents, Jack and Dorothy Pegues, worked as reporters, editors, and publishers throughout the Territory of Alaska.

Don spent his high school summers working for the Alaska Road Commission on the Alaska, Glennallen, and Richardson Highways. During the winters after school, his clear enunciation and smooth voice gained him employment at KINY radio announcing news and sports. After graduating from Juneau-Douglas High School, Don enlisted in the Army. He was sent to the Aleutian Islands and then to Fort Richardson, Alaska. There he was assigned to the 761st Military Police, and shortly after, was transferred to Special Services to be an announcer for the base radio station.

After discharge from the Army at the end of WWII, Don found work driving trucks between Whitehorse and Fairbanks. One day in 1947, he answered a "Help Wanted" ad for Pan American Airways. He was hired, and over the years held a variety of positions in Juneau, Ketchikan/Annette; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and lastly, Fairbanks. While stationed in Juneau with Pan Am, Don met Elsie Schombel, a lovely young woman working at his mother's weekly newspaper; they married in 1949. Don worked 32 years for Pan Am, and held the position of Director for Alaska when Pan Am ceased operations in Alaska in 1978. He opted to retire rather than accept a position at Pan Am's New York City headquarters. 

After Don's retirement from Pan Am, he joined a small group of family and friends to purchase the extensive Dermott O'Toole holdings in Tenakee Springs, Southeast Alaska. Don and Elsie moved to Tenakee in 1979, and took over the many-faceted operation of Snyder Mercantile. Daughters Barb and Diana, and Don's brother Bob, joined them to manage the properties, which included operating the general grocery, hardware and liquor stores; the fuel concession for fishing boats and home fuel delivery; the power plant, and management of several rental properties. Don also extended his career in the airline industry to 50 plus years as the Tenakee Springs agent for Channel Flying, Wings of Alaska and Alaska Seaplanes. Don was known for his accurate read of any weather situation in Tenakee Inlet, and met nearly every scheduled flight into Tenakee for over two decades. 

Although Alaska as a whole was home, Southeast Alaska was the home of his heart. Don loved the weather, the wild places, the scenery, the wild land animals, and those of the ocean depths. He would go out of his way to help any creature in distress. He once donned chest waders to save a fawn that had panicked and run into the ocean. Don was also a born storyteller. He will always be remembered as a kind, loving and very funny man who loved to chat and tell wonderful stories over a cup of coffee. 

Don was active in Tenakee's local government, serving 17 years on the Planning Commission, seven years on the City Council, and nine years as Mayor of Tenakee. He was a volunteer docent for the Tenakee Museum and a Tenakee Historical Collection board member. He was a supporter of the Tenakee Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Dermott O'Toole Library and Chichagof Conservation Council. Don was a member of Igloo 6 of the Pioneers of Alaska and the VFW.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Elsie Pegues (2003), daughter Barbara Scanlan (2011); son-in-law Herbert Scanlan Jr. (2015); brothers Terry, Rod, Geoff, Bob, Dick and Bill; stepsons Clarence & Michael Valencia; and close dear friend, Ruthann Craine.

He is survived by daughters Shelley Beery of Kent, Washington; Diana Pegues of Tenakee Springs; and Margaret Pegues of Fairbanks; granddaughters Stephani (Bill Tuaua) and Taimane Scanlan of Seattle; Nicole Pegues of Tenakee Springs; Karen Shuey of Gig Harbor, Washington; and Michelle Glenn of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; great grandchildren Jacob and Sophia Tuaua of Seattle; Hannah and Vaughn Shuey of Gig Harbor; and Charlie and Tommy Glenn of Myrtle Beach. 

At Don's request, there will be no memorial service. Donations in his memory can be made to the Tenakee Historical Collection, PO Box 633, Tenakee Springs, Alaska 99841. Condolences may be sent to The Pegues Family, PO Box 505, Tenakee Springs, Alaska 99841.