George Gene Shattuck

George Gene Shattuck has caught the Great Freight Train in the sky. George, 74, passed peacefully on February 25th in Bozeman, Montana of lung cancer. He was born on February 18, 1941 to Simeon and Georgia (Loe) Shattuck in Couer d’Alene, Idaho. George grew up in a railroad family and was a life-long rail fan. His early years were spent in Clarkia and Fernwood, Idaho where his family lived in the Milwaukee Railroad depot. George joined the Navy in 1959 where he saw action aboard a destroyer in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. He was honorably discharged with a Purple Heart in 1963. In 1964, George moved to Libby, Montana where he worked in logging, concrete, and mining. George worked for W.R. Grace for 10 years. In 1992, George followed work to Missoula, Montana where he eventually retired from the trucking business. George was known far-and-wide as an avid conversationalist who was always in a good mood. George was an photographer, amateur radio operator, and a member of Civil Air Patrol. He enjoyed music, square dancing, and riding his four-wheeler in the mountains. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling to the St. Joe River in Idaho to take pictures and camp with family. George was a very kind man who loved to drink coffee and talk about the railroad. He will be missed greatly. George is survived by son Rich (Marta) Shattuck of Bozeman; daughter Dianna “Dee” (Ron) Gore of Anchorage, Alaska; sister Marilyn Biery of Hepton, Idaho; and grandchildren Jennifer Gore and Simeon Shattuck. Memorials may be made to The Center for Asbestos Related Disease Foundation (www.donatecardfoundation.org) in Libby, MT. Services will be held at noon in Clarkia, Idaho on Saturday, June 6th. More information: wb7dby@gmail.com