Alaska plane crash victim IDd as beloved school counselor and US veteran who was en route to see students

A beloved school counselor killed on the small airplane that initially went missing before crashing on sea ice off in Alaska was on her way to pick up students for “college tours.” Carol Mendiola Mooers, 48 — one of the 10 victims aboard the doomed Bering Air Flight last week — was a school counselor for the Unalakleet School in Alaska and “on her way to go pick up students to take on college tours in Juneau and Anchorage” when the plane crashed, a fundraising page set up by her son, Aaron Mooers, revealed.The mother of two was a US Army veteran and a native of San Antonio, TX.Her son, who described her as “an Educator, Mentor, and Community Leader,” shared that the family plans to bury her in the Lone Star State.“My father Rodney, my brother Hunter, and myself will be traveling across the country three times to recover her, take care of her, and have her services in San Antonio,” he said.“We are doing this because she deserves the best and she had always wanted to be buried with her fellow service members in San Antonio, TX.”In a heartfelt tribute posted on the Unalakleet School’s Facebook page, they shared that Moores “touched the lives of everyone in our school.”“She was a keystone to our operations.

She worked in every classroom and she worked with every individual.She spent most of her lunchtimes with the students and almost every weekend supporting student activities,” the school wrote.“There aren’t enough words to express the magnitude of loss or to honor her many contributions to the Wolfpack.

We appreciate all of the community and regional support with your condolences and prayers.Carol will forever be a member of the Wolfpack in loving memory.”The school also revealed Alaska State Mentor Teacher Liane Ryan, who had been working in the school “throughout this year,” was killed in the crash and is remembered for her “contagious smile, an upbeat attitude, and was always willing to pitch in wherever needed.”Un...