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Allison Shanks: Flight attendant loved her job and 4-year-old daughter

Wednesday, February 2, 2000

By ROBERT McCLURE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Allison Shanks adored her 4-year-old daughter Haile, frequently roller-bladed around Green Lake with her and showered the child with clothes. She tried to work only on weekends as a flight attendant so family members could care for Haile while she was away.

Photo  
Allison Shanks with daughter Haile  
"She was an incredible woman, an incredible mother," said Shanks' sister-in-law, Jamie Shanks. "She loved her job, loved to travel, loved the camaraderie of being a senior flight attendant."

Allison Shanks, 33, joined Alaska in December 1988. On a layover in Mexico, she met a man who would become her husband. They lived in Los Angeles, but divorced when Haile was only 3 months old, Jamie Shanks said.

Mother and daughter moved back to Seattle, living in Issaquah with Allison's mother, Dolores.

"They were best friends," Shanks said.

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About a year ago, Allison and Haile moved to a three-story condominium across from the Woodland Park Zoo.

When Allison flew on weekends, Haile would stay with her grandparents or other relatives. But she loved her mother best.

"The days that Allison was coming home, Haile was always on Cloud 9," Shanks said.

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