George Gene Shattuck

George Gene Shattuck has caught the Great Freight Train in the sky. George, 74, passed peacefully on February 25 in Bozeman of lung cancer. He was born on Feb. 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 United States 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 where he worked in logging, concrete and mining. George worked for W.R. Grace for 10 years. In 1992, George followed work to Missoula 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 a 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 6. For more information: wb7dby@gmail.com.