Obituary: W.F. "Pat" Shull

Mr. Shull

Mr. Shull

Pat Shull passed away Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at the age if 93. Appropriately, this railroader spent his last days at Santa Fe House in Prescott Valley.

Pat was born Dec. 17, 1915, in St. Louis, Mo., to Percy Warren and Valentine Marie Kubler Shull.

In his teen years he enjoyed baseball games with the local farm teams and playing piano on the Mississippi River boats.

He moved to Prescott in 1932 to help his aunt run the service station in Skull Valley, which is still there by the railroad tracks today.

He played piano at several establishments on Whiskey Row while working on the extra-board before being hired full time by the Santa Fe Railroad.

He spent 42 years with the A. T. & SF, working his way up through the ranks to conductor. He served as their legislative representative on the labor board at the state level and retired as #1 man on the board.

Pat was a member of the Elks Lodge #330. He was a lifetime member of the York Rite and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Aztlan Lodge #1 F & A.M. of Prescott.

He owned the Southwestern Gun Shop were he built and repaired firearms for many of Prescott's residents

and law enforcement officers. His love of hunting and fishing took he and his buddy, Don Kizer, to some of Arizona's most beautiful areas. They watched Lake Powell develop from its beginnings.

Pat was preceded in death by his wives, Helen Notley Shull and Rose Merwin Shull. He is survived by his daughters Patti Shull Bledsoe of Prescott Valley, Jeannie Shull Kerby of Mesa, Norma Merwin Orr of Mayer and Frances Merwin Johnston of Stockton, Calif.; seven grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Private services are planned. The family asks donations in his memory be sent to Hospice Family Care Inc., 100 E. Sheldon, Prescott, AZ 86301, (928) 541-1740.

Information provided by survivors.


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