Welcome to DennaRae Bryant's
Memorial Page
3-11-43 to 4-4-99
Hello, My name is DeniTaree McCloud. I am
the daughter of DennaRae Bryant, and I am creating this web page
as a memorial to my mother.
Ancorage educator DennaRae Bryant was born
March 11, 1943 in New London Conn. She grew up in Seal Beach California,
and attended St. Anthony's school from k-12. After graduating
cum laude from California State University at Long Beach and earning
her masters degree from Cal-State San Bernardino, she began her
25 year teaching career in Palm Springs, Calif., at Nellie N.
Coffman Junior High and Palm Springs High School. While in Palm
Springs, she was selected teacher of the year. In 1981, she came
to Alaska, where she taught at Central Junior High School, Bartlett
High School and the University of Alaska. Her favorite subjects
included classical mythology, British literature, psychology and
grammar-vocabulary building. She loved the arts and enjoyed painting,
pottery, ceramics, stained-glass, reading and writing. Ms. Bryant
is survived by her husband, William Yudiskas; daughter and son-in-law,
DeniTaree Reavis McCloud and Kelly McCloud; three grandchildren,
David Sean Cantu, Dana Elise Cantu, and Kaitlin Alexis McCloud,
all of Eagle River; stepdaughter Erica Yudiskas; parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Kemp and brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Louis James Bryant, of California; nephews, James, Michael and
Kevin Bryant, of California; and two half-brothers, Leroy and
Larry Bryant. Her family said: "Ms. Bryant is remembered
by thousands of students whom she touched and and by whom she
was touched." They brought as much love and light to her
life as she sought to bring to theirs. The most difficult part
of her forced retirement was leaving her students and her teaching
behind. She constantly advised her students to 'stop and smell
the flowers.' and laugh each day-- especially at themselves, and
to try to leave the world a better place than they found it.
Her friends affirm that these things guided
DennaRae's own life. To friends who witnessed her fighting spirit,
she was known as 'XenaRae, the Warrior Princess.'
Besides being especially blessed in having
a devoted daughter, asupportive husband, a magical mother, and
a loving family, DennaRae also had many wonderful friends and
collegues who supported her in her final battle with breast cancer.
In lieu of flowers, Ms. Bryant requested that
memorials for scholarships be sent to Bartlett High School, Anchorage
99506.
