Longtime resident of Anchorage, Alaska, Shelbert Jay "Shelby" Larsen, 70, passed into eternal life on Sunday, November 23, 2014 with several loved ones and friends surrounding him. He fought a courageous 4-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Shelby was born March 16, 1944 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, to Lawrence Peter and Marie Porter Larsen. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he completed primary, young men's, and seminary programs, before graduating from South High School in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1962. On October 17, 1963 he was called by David O. McKay, President of the Church, to serve in the Alaskan-Canadian Mission. He traveled much of Alaska and Canada during his mission and came to love the place that would become his lifetime home. After completing his mission service, Shelby entered the University of Utah in 1966, moving to Alaska in Feb. 1973 to pursue his nursing education. In April, 1976, he graduated from Alaska Methodist University with a bachelor of Nursing Science. During his early career, Shelby worked for Glenmore Rehabilitation Center, Alaska Nurses Registry, Alaska Hospital, and Anchorage Community Health. He is distinguished as being one of the first three nurses hired (all on 1/2/1979) by the Alaska Dept. of Corrections. He was commended by the program director for his competency and dedication, and his huge role in the success of the division's Medical Care Demonstration Project which integrated nursing to Corrections. Shelby's continued excellence in his work opened opportunities to work in health facility licensing. In 1989, he joined Alaska Div. of Health Care Services, Certification and Licensing, as a Health Facilities Surveyor, became its Chief, and most recently, Health Facilities Consultant. He is credited with writing much of the regulations related to rural critical access hospitals. Shelby was recognized by a supervisor for his great credibility and integrity. People often looked to him for help and guidance. He was known to be very kind and sensitive to the feelings of others, and his gentle sense of humor often defused tense situations in the workplace. He retired from the State of Alaska in 2013 after 35 years of service, but continued to serve as consultant. Shelby was a man of many talents who loved to play the guitar and was a skilled wood worker. He would spend many hours in his woodshop, creating beautiful cabinets and other wood projects for his home. He loved fishing and being in the Alaskan outdoors, and as recently as August, mustered his strength (despite undergoing chemo), to take his family dip-netting on the Kenai River. He is remembered by family and friends as a sweet and gentle man with an exceptional sense of humor. A trusted confidant and mentor, his company and counsel was a comfort to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Carmen "Mely" Cascajares Larsen, step-sons, Jordi G. Prieto and Samuel B. Prieto, son, J Courtney (Jessica) Larsen, daughters Laureen Marie (Mark) Pfau, and Sylvia Jane Larsen, their mother, Francine Larsen, his sister Joyce L. Hanson of Murray, Utah, grandchildren, Tallis and Rhys Larsen, Ava and Noah Pfau, and many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. A public viewing will be held 5: 30 p.m. Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Campbell Park Ward, 700 West 46th Ave. in Anchorage, followed immediately by funeral services at 6:30 p.m. with Bishop Sam Sponseller officiating, and a reception after. Arrangements were by the Anchorage Funeral Home.