Kirk Shively

Kirk Shively died in an accident on the job Sept. 29, 2007.

A celebration of Shively’s life is planned for 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at Crossroads Community Center, 7010 Bogard Road in Palmer. For directions call 745-6701.

Shively was born Nov. 13, 1957, to Ralph and Joan Shively in Paw Paw, Mich.. They moved to Alaska in 1967 and he was in the National Guard throughout his late teens. In 1976, Shively married Linda Fischer.

His many skills included body work, truck driving, cooking and drilling water wells. Shively was a skilled welder and worked in the oil field where he was promoted to driller.

He loved the Lord and also liked to hunt and fish and did a lot of work on his house, which he owned for 26 years. Shively was a big animal person and doted on his pets. He may have been gruff on the outside but had a heart to do right by people.

Shively and his partner, Paul Barr, started Sourdough Drilling in 2000 and the people he drilled water wells for knew he always gave them his best effort to get them water. He never hesitated to tell his family he loved them and was always good for a hug. He was a very generous person and highly respected by those who knew him.

Shively was preceded in death by father Ralph Shively and brother Doug Shively. He is survived by wife, Linda; daughters Kathleen Shively and Jamie (John) Conn; mother Joan Shively; brother Dan Shively; granddaughters Madeline and Marisson Conn; nephews Jim and Justin Shively; and many other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family has established a scholarship for Shively’s daughter Kathleen, who is attending culinary arts school at University of Alaska Anchorage. Send contributions to Kathleen Shively c/o Jamie Conn; P.O. Box 3081; Palmer, AK 99645.