Terry Shurtleff

Terry Donald Shurtleff died Jan. 6, 2008, following a short battle with esophageal cancer. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by his family in the home he build on Long Lake near Willow. He was 65.

Shurtleff was born Sept. 26, 1942, in Colorado to Russell and Ella Marie Shurtleff, the seventh of 10 children. He moved to Alaska in 1962 after serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Hornet.

In Alaska, he first worked for Carrs stores as produce manager and for Pacific Fruit and Produce. Shurtleff began his Teamsters Union career in 1974 and worked on the North Slope oilfields until 1994. He started Royal Flush Septic Pumping in 1996 and was owner/operator of that business at the time of his death.

Shurtleff was married to Sharon Lynn Marshall from 1966 to 1974 and married Bonnie Imlach in 1975.

He was an avid outdoorsman and pilot who loved fishing and hunting Alaska’s backcountry. He loved to laugh and give those he liked a hard time. Although he never completed college, Shurtleff impressed upon his children the importance of education. He was extremely proud that his five children graduated from college.

He was instrumental in starting the football and scholarship programs at Houston High School, and supported programs to keep children interested in and attending school.

Shurtleff is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children, Terry Shurtleff, Tanya Werner, Alice Miller, Crystal Imperato and Russell Shurtleff. He is also survived by grandchildren Terry M. and Joshua Shurtleff; Jacob, Samuel and Lauren Werner; and Ethan Miller, and Braden and Cade Imperato. He was looking forward to the birth of his ninth grandchild in May. He is also survived by seven siblings and many other family and friends.

A memorial celebration will be begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 at Houston High School. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to memorial account No. 123538SH at Mat-Su Valley Federal Credit Union.