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Longtime Alaska homesteader Samuel Clay Henley died Friday, June 5, 2009, at his home in Kenai. He was 93.

A celebration of Sam's life will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, July 3, at his homestead at Mile 15.3 of the Kenai Spur Highway. Contact Ruth Denison for directions at 283-8481. His ashes will be scattered at his Moose Camp on Redoubt Bay.

Mr. Henley was born July 20, 1915, to Charles and Trella Henley in Bluffton, Ind. After graduating high school, he attend Purdue University. Sam was a rancher in Wyoming from 1932 until he moved to Alaska. He helped out the Alaskan Territorial Guard in Anchorage and became an Alaska resident, living in Anchorage in 1945. While living in Anchorage, he was an electrician. He moved from Anchorage to Kenai, where he led guided hunting trips and commercial fished from 1948-87. He worked at Kenai Electric until he retired. He also was a member of the Alaska Fisherman Association, IBEW, AOPA, EAA, NRA and assisted in recovering downed aircraft. He was "Mr. Go To" for airplane parts and advice. He loved repairing airplanes, reading, crossword puzzles and Suduko.

"Sam was very independent until he married Shirley in 1982. He maintained his Alaska lifestyle of hard work and hard 'play' at hunting, fishing, flying and repairing airplanes. He helped anyone who asked for help. If Sam couldn't repair a piece of machinery, it couldn't be repaired. He was a mentor for his nieces, nephews, and step-children, who in return, loved and respected him," his family said. "Sam had great stories of his adventures. When he could no longer do the things that made his life meaningful, he was ready to leave this earth. We wish him well. He will be remembered by all who loved him. Sam did electrical wiring on many buildings as well as many local businesses. With his boat Puffin and later Seamew, Sam and his nephew, Grant, fished Cook Inlet. He hunted in Africa, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, Port Heiden and Wyoming."

Mr. Henley was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dora Kennedy, and step-grandson, Joseph Denison.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Shirley M. Henley of Kenai; brother, David W. Henley of Scottsdale, Ariz.; sister, Beth Henderson and her husband, Bob, of Anchorage; stepdaughters, Ruth Denison of Kenai, Ginger Kaona of Kenai and Glenda Grawe of Spring, Texas; step-son-in-law, Edward Kaona of Kenai; nephews, C. Grant Henderson and his wife, Jannie, of Anchorage, Clay Kennedy and his wife, Barbara, of Columbia, Mo., David M. Henley of interior Alaska, and Troy Henley and his wife of Phoenix; nieces, Claudia Blythe and her husband of Lima, Peru, Barbara Steidley and her husband, of Augusta, Mo., and Patricia Henley of Kenai.

The family suggests that memorial donations be made in memory of Sam to Hospice of the Central Peninsula, 159 E. Redoubt Ave., Soldotna, AK 99669.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.