EARL HOWARD STANLEY Obituary (1932

Earl Stanley You may have taken notice of the old man smoking his pipe while walking about Libby with his little companion, Riley, a black and white Boston Bull Terrier. Perhaps you found a compassionate listener to how your day was going. That guy was our Uncle Earl - and he became Uncle Earl to so many. Earl Stanley was born May 7th, 1932, in Minneapolis Minnesota; he died in Libby August 11th, 2021. His constant companions throughout his life were his succession of Boston Bull Terriers. He was a lifelong bachelor. As a teenager, he delivered groceries for the Libby Mercantile. When he turned 18, he went to work for J.Neils Lumber Company, retiring in 1997 after 47 years; he was a crane operator at the mill. Earl was a simple yet complex man, truly without malice. He never said a bad word about anyone. He was vulnerable, kind, nonjudgmental and gentle. He loved life, his many friends - especially his coffee group, his little house, his Boston Bull Terriers, fast cars (especially Corvettes), old cars, smoking his pipe, chatting with anyone who would listen, watching old westerns, Louie L'Amour books, a good (or even not so good) joke, and finally - his family. He really was a kid at heart. He was known about Libby for his walkabouts with Riley, stopping now and then to lean against a light pole or sit on a bench to smoke his pipe. He truly loved Libby and he loved people. No one was more surprised than Earl himself when he passed away from COVID. He was fully vaccinated. He caught it while recuperating from a fall in what was hoped to be a short convalescent stay at the Libby Care Center. We thank the staff of the Care Center who worked tirelessly to provide care and comfort. We thank his neighbors and friends who loved and cared for our Uncle Earl. The family grieves not only Earl's untimely passing due to COVID, but that the man who was so social, who loved nothing more than coffee and chatting with friends, was forced to die alone because the Care Center had to shut down for visitation due to the many and still increasing COVID active cases. We are deeply saddened that Earl died alone. We will remember Earl's childlike wonder and his playful smile. It has been said he was a Libby icon. Without trying, he represented the fabric and soul of "old" Libby. He is survived by his dog, Riley; nieces Karen Wickersham, Lynn Stanley; great nieces, Tracy McKnight, Tondi Petersen, and Molly Fagan; nephew-in-law, Jack Wickersham; and 6 great-great nieces and nephews. In abundance of caution due to the rapid spread of COVID, his funeral will be held via zoom. Earl was a member of the Methodist Church. Our friend and Libby United Methodist Church Minister, Karen Disney will officiate the private family graveside service. Please share your stories about Earl - and we know they are numerous! To share comments and those funny and heartwarming stories that we know are out there, just go to his tribute page at www.schnackenbergfh.com. You are welcome and encouraged to electronically join the family graveside service via zoom at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 19th. The zoom link is: Earl Stanley Service (or copy and paste the following in your browser - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82239475363?pwd=Z0hZV2NzZllXTGtKL015NXFoOEh0Zz09 Please call 293-5646 if you have any questions on how to join us. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. In Earl's memory, the family asks that you please get vaccinated and wear your masks! In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice. Following is a link to view his service: https://youtu.be/CG8WJd8T-xI