Long-time Skagway resident Ron Boughton passed away suddenly on May 22, age 67, due to complications from Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Ron was preceded in death by his father Duane Boughton Jr. He is survived by son Randy, mother Myrna Boughton, sister Kym Yates (Dan) and brother Chuck (Leigh) Boughton. He is also survived by four step-children: Martin (Gisela) Porreca, Anthony (Robin) Porreca, Gina (Dave) Sicard and Dominic Porreca.
Finally, he is survived by his partner and wife of 27 years, Margaret “Maggie” Boughton.
Ron and Margaret met in 1993 and left Michigan in 1994 to begin their adventure in Alaska. Ron told everyone since he was 4-years-old that he was going to live in Alaska some day. With Margaret beside him, they made that dream happen. They started their adventure working at the Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood in 1994 and relocated to Anchorage the following year. Ron was maintenance manager at the Inlet Tower Suites in Anchorage. In 2002, after Margaret’s serious illness, they decided to move south to Florida to be closer to family. On their road trip south Ron asked, “Do you want to see the place where I hiked the Chilkoot Trail (in 1998)?” The rest, they say, is history.
They returned to Skagway in 2003 where they lived until September 2019, departing for Florida with the intention of becoming snowbirds.
Ron was a handyman. Margaret would say he could do anything, but pay him by the job not the hour, as he was a perfectionist. He had a few careers in Skagway but his favorite was that of being a coffee shop owner for two summers. Ron will be missed by all who knew him as he was steadfast and would do anything to help.
Above all, Ron was proud to be an Alaskan for 26 years, almost as proud as being a Harley owner.
