Charles “Chuck” M. Shaver

Chuck M. Shaver, 91, died Jan. 7, 2013, at Two Sisters Assisted Living home from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born Nov. 21, 1921, in Manheim, W. Va., to Lottie and Walter Shaver. From his close-knit family and growing up on a farm, he learned about hard work and good work ethic, and made it a point that his daughters and granddaughters learned those values pushing lawnmowers.

When his father started working away from the farm, Chuck took on more responsibilities and left school in the eighth grade. He continued his education on the farm and later as a welder on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. By the time he left this railroad job he could fix just about anything.

In the Army in World War II, he spent many months marching, and repairing and operating steam locomotives in France and Belgium. After the war he headed back to West Virginia, and then in 1947 followed his cousin and uncle to a new frontier — Alaska. One of his first jobs in Alaska was driving bus between Palmer and Anchorage on dirt roads, corduroyed roads and roads flooded by the Lake George breakups. His uncle ran the Felton House in Palmer, where Chuck met many coal miners. That’s where Harry Hill of Evan Jones Coal Co., “Jonesville Coal Mine” in Sutton, found him and offered Chuck a job. He worked there until the mine closed in 1968.

Chuck married Vivian “Babe” Meier in 1950 and they had two daughters. They built a house in north Palmer, raised a huge garden for many years, and filled the shelves and freezer with salmon and moose. He made some of the best sauerkraut around and the neighbors could all smell when it was ready to can.

Shortly after the mine closed, he began working for the city of Palmer in 1969 and retired in 1984 as the Public Works director. Chuck had seen some of the original wooden water lines installed in the 1940s and was very happy to be part of the upgrades to the water system for the city in the 1970s. Visitors always got a tour of the sewer lagoon.

After retiring from the city, he spent time back in West Virginia helping with his mother’s farm and spending time with his family there. Retirement also allowed time to hunt and fish more in Alaska, and he especially enjoyed his trips to Aniak and the Kuskokwim with the three Hill brothers. Chuck was a wealth of information about the history of coal mining in the Valley and enjoyed helping the Sutton Historical Society and contributing to the Coal Miner’s Hall of Fame. He enjoyed having coffee and sharing stories with “old timers” at the Valley Hotel and in Sutton.

Surviving are his daughters, Gaye (Bill) Sarvela of Chugiak and Sue Granath of Palmer; sister, Gaye Childs of Terra Alta, W. Va.; brothers, Bud (Betty) Shaver of Carrollton, Ohio, and Jim (Sue) Shaver of Lavelette, W. Va.; granddaughters, Brook (Eric) Jorgensen of LaGrande, Ore., Layne Sarvela of Boise, Idaho, and Tracy (Daryl) Korsmeyer of Lakewood, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Hunter, Abby, Ella, Cody, Riley and Lacey; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Vivian; parents, Walter and Lottie Shaver; two brothers; and two sisters.

The family wishes to extend their thanks and gratitude to Chuck’s home care providers, Linda, Dena and Carolyn, and Julie and crew at Two Sisters Assisted Living Home.

A memorial and celebration of life will take place in the spring.