Per his request, a small family service was held in his home.

Mr. Saffell was born Jan. 11, 1928, in Bloomington, Ind. He came to Alaska in the early 1950s and realized this was where he was meant to live. He traveled to Michigan and married Marjorie Ruth Thompson in 1957. In that same year, they returned to live in Anchorage. After working for the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, he took a job with Standard Oil (Chevron). He, along with his business partner and lifelong friend Quindell Queen, began operating the Kenai Chevron Bulk plant in 1959. He retired at 73 from the oil products business .

"Bill was known and loved by so many in our community and could always be counted on for a good joke or story. In his true Alaska life, Bill enjoyed many long hikes in the woods with his friends and family. He also loved flying folks around in his bush plane, along with hunting and fishing every chance he could get. His devoted cat Boomer was always with him at home. His loving grandchildren will forever remember their grandpa as 'Puppy,' 'Baca' and 'Oompa.' His departure from this world will no doubt leave a very large void for so many. We can rest assured we will meet him again, as he would say 'a little further up the creek,'" his family said.

Mr. Saffell was preceded in death by his wife after 46 years of marriage.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Deena Saffell of Anchorage; daughters, Laura Barry of Lakewood, Wash., and Julie Sibley and her husband, Mike, of Kenai; brother, Bob Saffell and his wife, Joanne, of California and their family; and grandchildren, Amber Saffell, Amanda and Geoffrey Hewitt and Benjamin Sibley.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to the Kenai Senior Citizens Center, 361 Senior Court, Kenai, AK 99611.

Condolences may be sent to the family at 210 Fireweed, Kenai, AK 99611.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.