Ricky Meshew

Ricky Allen Meshew, 49, died Sept. 20, 2007, in an industrial accident while at work in Palmer.

Meshew was born Jan. 1, 1958, in Salem, Ore., and came to Alaska in 1972, where he attended Service and Hanshew schools. He also had extensive industrial and hazardous materials education.

He first lived in Anchorage and most recently the Mat-Su Valley.

Meshew worked for Laborers & Hod Carriers Local 341 in Anchorage since 1975 and was affiliated with the Crossroads Church. He had earned various safety awards, including the Advanced Driving Traffic Safety award, and had a special interest as an Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act supervisor contractor.

He loved his family, and all who knew him loved him. Once Meshew counted you a friend, you were a friend for life. He delighted in pulling practical jokes and loved to laugh. He felt he hadn’t done his job if one didn’t get a good laugh at least once while spending time with him. He was a hard worker and a good provider, a loyal, loving husband, father and uncle who loved to play with his children, nieces and nephews. He made sure all of them took swimming lessons even if he had to pay for the lessons himself.

Meshew is survived by his wife, Maria, and son Allen of Big Lake; daughters Kandee and Mable Meshew of the Philippines; father Robert Meshew of Palmer; brother Robert (Diana) Meshew of California; sister Kandee Lea (Andrew) Murr of Big Lake; and numerous members and like family in the U.S. and Philippines. He was preceded in death by mother, Mabel Rose Meshew; maternal grandparents Effie and Cleatis Nydegger; paternal grandparents Earl and Gracey Meshew; and Billy Lindsey who was like a brother to him.

Interment will take place at Wasilla-Aurora Cemetery.

Service time and date are pending at this time. For more information, please call Valley Funeral Home and Crematory for more information 373-3344.