Earl Edward Shiflett

03/20/1933 - 02/26/2011

SHIFLETT,
Earl Edward

Earl Edward Shiflett passed away February 26, 2011, following an evening with his daughters and grand-children at his side. He had battled cancer for several years.
Earl was born on March 20, 1933, in a tent on the banks of a river in Watsonville, California. His parents Earl L. and Mildred (Stringfield) Shiflett worked in the fields and orchards there during the depression. The family later returned to Washington State, where his father worked in the logging industry. Earl attended school in Malaga, Twisp, Okanagon and Dryden, before graduating in 1951 from Brewster High School. After graduation, he moved to Roseburg, Oregon where he logged in the woods for Douglas County Lumber. He returned to Brewster in 1955, where he sold cars for OK Chevrolet.
On April 20, 1957, he married Billie June Pool in Brewster. They moved to Republic in August 1958 where they raised their three daughters, Kathleen (1959), Jaki (1961) and Julie (1967). Earl started logging, eventually founding Shiflett Logging, Inc. His vast entrepreneurial experience included partnerships in Morris Chevrolet, S&S Petroleum, Hunters Washington Sawmill, Empire Machinery in Spokane, and R&S Ranch in Benton City. In addition, he was involved in many real estate investments with longtime logging friends Clint Brown, Louie Dragnich and Bill Bangs, who all referred to him as "Big E". While he was in Republic, he served on the Ferry County Fair Board and was very active with his two oldest daughters in Washington State High School Rodeo Association, where he served as president. As a father to three daughters who graduated from Republic High School, Earl offered financial support and his equipment and crews whenever possible for improvement projects and needs of the athletic teams at the school.
In 1985 Earl and Billie moved to Wenatchee, Washington, where they had established a restaurant, Murphy's Steakhouse. In 1987, having recently divorced, Earl moved to Tonasket Washington where he went to work for J&J Logging. On September 11, 1990, Earl married Vicki Riehart, retired and moved to Spokane.
Earl had a love of cars, hunting, fishing, going to casinos, and horse races, owning horses with Ted Stephens at Playfair race course in Spokane. Earl's constant love and hobby was country music. He played bass guitar in numerous bands with John Stabenfeldt, Sam Cassell, Mel Davis and Jeff Young. Earl believed there were only two kinds of music, "country" and "western" and passed his love of music on to his immediate family, including his three daughters who survive him; Kathleen (Mike) Reid, Jaki (Steve Slate) Upton, and Julie (Carey Learn) Shiflett. Also survived by his grandchildren; Cody (Amy) Reid, Jami (Chris) Dehmer, Cori Upton, Kelsi Upton; his great- grandsons: Cole Dehmer (22 months) and Cash Reid (awaiting arrival); his brother Ray (Maureen) Shiflett; the mother of his children Billie Krisher; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his father Earl L. Shiflett, mother Mildred Shiflett Rodepouch, stepfather Lewis Rodepouch, sister Opal Morris and his wife Vicki Shiflett.
Memorial donations can be made to the non-profit cemetery preservation organization Chelan County Cemetery District #5, 2932 McDowney Road, Malaga, WA 98828.
Earl's Spokane friends will be hosting a potluck and karaoke remembrance for him on his birthday March 20th at 3 pm at the Spokane Valley Eagles, 16801 East Sprague Avenue.
After a private family burial at Stemilt Hill cemetery at noon on Saturday, March 26th, Earl's family will be hosting a Celebration of Earl's life at 2 pm at the Wenatchee Red Lion Hotel at 1225 North Wenatchee Avenue (509-663-0711). Food will be served and drinks will be available. Earl often quoted from W.C. Fields, "A man has to believe in something, I believe I will have another drink," so please come and join us in a toast to Earl's life.