Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

On March 31st, Jerry Ashcraft passed unexpectedly following a heart attack while on the North Slope. Before passing he told me of his hopes to explore Alaska this summer, and of new ministry opportunities in Pakistan. He had no fear, and his passion was contagious.

Jerry leaves countless loved ones across the US. Among these were the terminally ill, rejected, troubled, poor, homeless, young and old. He accepted without reservation of condition or status. He was the 6'4" Jesus from Arkansas.

Jerry got me to Haines. He entered my life when I was gutted of value. Once he took me aside saying, "Andrew, you do not know your value and premium." He then gave me a small bag of glass gems, and continued, "You have value to God." Later, I found more of these bags; I wasn't the only one to receive them. There will be no measuring how many people his life impacted. I still have his gems, and I have begun gifting them too.

Jerry's favorite shirt said, "I am Me. Who are you?" Those words embody his life. He found who he was, and his deepest desire was that we would do the same. Rest in peace my dear friend. On behalf of all the lives you touched, thank you. You left a legacy.