The Rev. Edward E. Cunningham, a clergyman for hospice, said, "When I came to work at Professional Home Hospice two years ago, I had no clue about hospice.

"I did not know how important it was and how much of a benefit it is," Cunningham said. " It is absolutely one of the best things I have ever done.

"I don't believe that there will be a time in my life that I will not have some involvement in hospice," Cunningham said.

Cunningham grew up in Corning, Calif. and graduated from high school in 1978. He has worked in the oil fields of Alaska, and own and operated his own construction company. He is also the pastor at the Pentecostal Church of God in Sallisaw.

Cunningham said he met his wife in college where he was studying electronic engineering. The couple married in March 1979 and has two children.

Cunningham said he first remodeling job was in northern California helped rebuild the interior of a building in the summer of 1978.

After the couple married they moved to Alaska where he helped build a church.

Cunningham worked in the oil fields in Alaska for about 10 years. "I worked mainly in instrumentation and hydraulics, dealing with pressure controllers and devices to maintain proper pressure and flow," he said.

"Alaska is the most beautiful place in the world. It is always gorgeous even when it is frozen," Cunningham said.

"I remember working in the oil fields at night when the Northern Lights would light the sky so much that you didn't need headlights on a car," Cunningham said. "They were that bright and vibrant.

"It was very beautiful. They were usually blues and greens and moved in a wavy pattern," Cunningham said.

"We also saw a variety of wildlife. I have seen a musk ox, caribou, polar bears, grizzles, and black bears," Cunningham said. "There are some bear sanctuaries you can go and see them closer than you would want to in the wild."

Cunningham said the snow in Alaska is different than here, it is a dry snow.

Cunningham said he did construction work for about 12 years from 1988 to 2000. "What I did mostly was remodeling work. I would take something that was run down or was on its way to be destroyed and return it to a better than original state," he said.

Cunningham said he moved to Sallisaw six years ago. His grandmother lived in Stilwell and they moved to the area to help his parents take care of her.

Cunningham said his hobbies are golfing and hunting. He said he did a little caribou hunting in Alaska.

"Golfing is a very fun activity. Sometimes the ball goes wrong and sometimes the ball goes right but that is just learning the game," Cunningham said. "I have never hit a hole in one. The lowest I ever shot was in the low 80s.

"Knowing Christ as my savior is the most outstanding part of my life," Cunningham said