Kevin Barner

Kevin Barner, also known as "Robert Bear Paw," 14, died Dec. 29, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center of sepsis.

A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Willow, Alaska, Community Center. A public viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will be after the service at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. Father Leroy Clementich will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Gene Newman, Sam Newman, Mark Anselm, Carl Hemmer, Cindy Hemmer and Raymond Anselm. A potluck will be held at the community center during and after the burial.

Kevin was born May 21, 1992, in Anchorage, to Traci Barner of Willow and Mike Barner of Anchorage. At the age of 1 1/2, Kevin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Although he was challenged, Kevin always made the best of every situation that crossed his path.

He was home schooled through Matanuska Susitna Borough School District Correspondence Study School. He had completed the seventh grade.

He was also a member of St. Christopher's of Willow.

His family wrote: "Kevin was like a magnet -- he drew people to him and is loved very much. He loved the color purple, listening to music and dancing along with it, going to the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival, camping, watching "SpongeBob SquarePants," his cat, Scrapper, and most of all, his pup, Princess. Kevin had a very loving personality with character and mischievousness."

Kevin is survived by his mother, Traci Barner of Willow; father, Mike Barner of Anchorage; grandparents, Robert and Donna Anselm of Willow, Donna Waldron of Willow, grandfather, Gordon Barner of Idaho; great-grandmother, Billie Benton of Jackson; and many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends from everywhere.

Memorial donations may be sent to Wells Fargo Bank to the Kevin Barner Memorial Fund. The fund will be used to purchase equipment for children with special needs.

Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla, Alaska.

Courtesy announcement by Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo.