- Date Of Birth: December 17, 1928
- Date Of Death: November 29, 2021
- Spouse: Harrison (Harry) J Yost
- Resting Place: Palmer
- City: Rockford
- State: Illinois
Raymona J (Cotta Cloninger) Yost, fondly known as Peg, passed away peacefully from natural causes on November 29, 2021. Peg was just short of her 93rd birthday. Peg was born in December 1928 in Rockford, Illinois, to Raymond E. Cotta and Jane A. Maxfield Cotta. After graduating from the University of Illinois, her pioneering spirit and thirst for adventure took her from the east coast to the west coast of the US, pre-Castro Cuba, and south to Mexico. This same spirit inspired her to drive up to Alaska with a friend in 1958 in search of teaching jobs. She always said that as soon as she stepped over the border into Alaska, she felt at home. After a year in Anchorage, she settled in Palmer, where she taught at Central School and was active in the chamber of commerce and the United Protestant Church. She married Tom Cloninger (dec.) in 1962, and they moved into the log cabin she had built on Lazy Mountain. After finding herself alone when Tom died in 1966, she put her artistic talents to work, supporting the family through her printing business. Her “eski-notes” and Alaska-themed stationary products are well remembered by old friends. In 1972, she married Harrison (Harry) J Yost (dec.), adding three stepsons to the family. She and Harry were part of a prayer group that grew into the current Farm Loop Christian Center. After a brief sojourn in the lower 48, they returned to Alaska in 1988. Peg worked as the accountant at FLCC for several years before her retirement in 1992.
The last six years of her life were spent in the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home where she was known for her sweet spirit, love of music, and gratitude to the wonderful staff there.
She is survived by her daughter Julia Nuqul, her son Tom Cloninger, her stepsons, Jim Yost, John Yost, Jeff Yost, seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, December 5, at Farm Loop Christian Center in Palmer, Alaska at 3 pm.
