With a sad heart we want to share with our friends our beloved Leroy Shoultz passed away unexpectantly March 6th, 2023. He was surrounded by his family as he left us to be with his Lord. He was 85 vears old.
Leroy was totally dedicated to his wife of 64 years and his family. Arriving from Indiana the first time in Homer, Alaska in 1966, and returning to stay in 1968, Leroy was a vital part of the development of Homer and the community. The current Homer City Hall was one of his designs originally built for his wife’s Real Estate Office, a Savings and Loan and other offices. He helped build the original Pratt Museum and Shoultz and Son Construction built many homes throughout the community. He was a visionary and built the first subdivision in Homer to have all utilities underground. He was proud of his family and named streets in his subdivisions after his children Shannon, Tamara, Sabrina and Rochelle and Granddaughter Chelsey. Anyone who ever worked for or with Leroy always sang his praises and were quick to share stories about his wit, his intelligence and his kindness. They all said he was a great teacher. He was well known for his inventions and his ability to ‘fix’ anything.
His 9 Grandchildren and 11 Great grandchildren loved their Grandpa. Chelsey said he will always be her hero. A man who never needed a cape, just a tool belt and his 2 calloused hands, he could make anything with just some nails and a hammer. He had a heart of gold. His soul shines so bright, he would make you laugh even if you weren’t in a laughing mood.
Leroy loved Alaska. He was a true Alaskan and a real-life cowboy. He brought his family to Alaska in 1966 and probably was one of the first ‘spit rats’ with his wife and 4 little kids tenting on the spit. Just before winter was coming he found a log cabin out east road and they all moved in to enov their first winter of homestead life. Later they purchased a cabin in Fritz Creek. It didn’t take too long to get electric hooked up but for many years they melted snow and dipped water from Fritz Creek.
His first Homer job was butchering crab even though he’d never even seen a crab. His talents were quickly noticed and George Hamm hired him to help build custom fishing boats. Then Kenny Arndt stole him to go out into the Villages and build nurses stations, jails and other community buildings. But as soon as Leroy’s son Shannon was able to hammer a nail, they started Shoultz and Son Construction where they worked together until Leroy retired from Construction.
Now with 4 generations, mostly still in Alaska, it’s a long list all of the family that are so sorry to lose their hero. Leroy is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rita Jo, and their four children Shannon and Dee Dee Shoultz, Tamara and Mark Potter, Sabrina Alvarez, and Rochelle Thurmond. His 9 grandchildren, Chelsey Arno and Cass Hillstrand, Nick and Sammie, Wade and Erina and Danelle Thurmond, Tiffany Shoultz and Jeremy Lawson, Amanda and Taylor Day, Craig and Sam Potter. Great grandchildren Dylan, Kade, Isabella Arno, William, Scottie, Lewis, Alaska Jo, and RJ Thurmond. Bellamy Ruth Shoultz, Payton and Camden Day. Sisters Donna Lerche, Sherry Garner, Neena McCullough and Brother Greg Shoultz A Celebration of life will be Saturday March 11th at the Glacier View Baptist Church in Homer.
