Chester Ray Meeks, 79
Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, developer, devoted husband, father and Christian, Chester Ray Meeks was welcomed into the loving arms of his heavenly Father on the morning of Wednesday, July 8, 2020. His wife of 58 years, Donna, was by his side.
He was born on Oct. 17, 1940, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Chester and Earlene Meeks. In 1945, their family moved to Kalispell. It was in Montana that Chester discovered his love of the outdoors including hunting, fishing and trapping. He was a renowned shot and legends of him seeing and taking down big game from a distance abound.
Like many tradesmen, Chester answered the call to help rebuild Alaska after the 1964 earthquake. In 1965, he and best friend Max Bolin loaded a VW bus and drove the Alcan Highway. Chester quickly got underway building homes and businesses between stints on oil rigs in Cook Inlet and Prudhoe Bay. He was proud of his involvement in developing Anchorage and would often point out subdivisions, commercial buildings, homes and apartments he’d built.
Chester was a fierce witness to the Lord, a lifelong patriot and supporter of conservative values. He twice served as a delegate to the national GOP convention. Chester became an endeared friend to the community of Eek, Alaska, and was honored to be chosen as the commencement speaker for the first-ever high school graduation ceremony in Eek in 1980.
In his early 20s, he felt what would become a lifelong calling to serve in the mission field. Chester helped build churches across Alaska, Nebraska, Montana and villages in Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Chester retired from fulltime work in 2009. His enthusiasm for sharing his faith never faded.
Chester never met a stranger and new faces were regularly invited to the Meeks’ home after Sunday church for Donna’s famous fried chicken and rolls. He was a gentleman, forever wearing a well-kept Stetson. He and Donna traveled often and enjoyed numerous trips to Hawaii as well as driving the Alcan and visiting friends and family throughout the Lower 48.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Lolita Reynolds, Iva Peterson and Virginia Broomfield.
He is survived by his faithful wife, Donna Meeks; sisters, Louise (Gene) Smith and Rebecca (Clyde) Saylor; children, Rodney (Debbie) Meeks, Melinda (Tommy) McMasters, Crystal (Monty) Dyson and Roger (Andrea) Meeks; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and beloved nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express special gratitude to Ruth Bailey.
A celebration of life was held at Anchorage Baptist Temple on July 18. Chester was interred at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.