QUIGLEY, Christopher Lincoln

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 02/24/2004 Christopher Lincoln Quigley died peacefully, Feb. 1, 2004, at rest in Hickory, N.C., where his daughter Cathleen and her husband, Boyd, had lovingly attended to his wishes during his recent declining health. Christopher was born Jan. 24, 1920, in Detroit to Lilly Mae and Robert Joseph and spent his early youth there until venturing west at the tender age of 11. During this early adventure he met and settled in with the Evans family in Hatch, Utah, where he attended church and school and experienced many fond childhood memories, eventually becoming "another of the Evans boys" working in the area for various ranchers tending livestock and eradicating varmints. He married his sweetheart, Faye, in 1949, having met her at a dance in Oakland, falling in love at first sight. They lived in Oakland 11 years, moved to Concord in 1960 and once again to Vacaville in 1967 where they finally found the home and community they loved the rest of their life together while raising their children. Christopher became a marine engineer at 23, starting as a wiper then becoming a fireman, acting-oiler, oiler, third engineer, second engineer, first engineer and finally chief engineer. He traveled the entire world over and over again on many of the cargo ships still seen in ports today. He retired in 1972 and ventured into the restaurant business in Hatch, Utah, operating Quigley's Hatchtown Station for seven years while attempting to recapture some of the fond childhood he had experienced there. Christopher become an active marine engineer again in 1979 and again retired, for good this time, in 1990 having worked in the career he loved for a total of 40 years. Gen. Douglas McArthur signed his honorable discharge issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and stated, "I hold no branch in higher esteem than the Merchant Marine Services." Christopher's discharge papers listed the following decorations - the Merchant Marine Emblem, a Pacific War Zone Bar, an Atlantic War Zone Bar, a Philippine Liberation Ribbon and a Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Bar. Christopher's lifelong ambition and credo as a man was simple and true. Do whatever is humanly possible to make his family and friends comfortable and happy. His vibrant personality and smile will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his one and only true love, his wife of 45 years, Faye, in 1994. He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Michael (Carol), Steven (Julie); son, Mark; daughter, Christine; daughters and sons-in-law, Cathleen (Boyd), Susan (Leonard); beloved sister-in-law, Dolores Lopez; brothers-in-law, Manuel Saenz, John Saenz (Ann) and Julian Saenz; sister-in-law, Susan Saenz; 19 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; countless nieces and nephews, their children and many, many friends. A Christian burial mass was held Feb. 6, 2004, at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Vacaville. Burial followed at the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to his beloved Faye. The family hosted a gathering at in Vacaville after the burial to do what he loved most, be together and be happy. All who knew Chris were invited to attend.