We talked for a bit and I found out that his mom had passed away a few months ago, and I figure this may have something to do with his reduced correspondence.

Although I don't blame you for being pissed, you need to keep the attitude out of your correspondence.

Your points are well taken and correspond with what my gut is telling me. 

With no corresponding new employment, just the fact that the multi-family market in Anchorage has been so overheated that it priced people out of the market and buyers started looking to "the valley" for opportunity.

In most states, you must send the cosigner every piece of correspondence you send tenant. 

Saying it is a church group may make that difficult though if there isn't a vehicle burden corresponding to the number of people. 

Service Reductions A service reduction has occurred when the level of service provided by the landlord has been reduced without a corresponding decrease in rent.

You could offer to replace the carpet in the room that the man died in as a compromise though.  

I do have email correspondence from a few months back when he had first mentioned to me that the tenants might either leave early or need an extension due to them buying a home.

I focus on tenant history, credit score, eviction history, how they correspond via email and phone, and meeting them in person.