Gerald Wayne Quigley

Gerald W Quigley, Retired Battalion Chief, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at his son’s home surrounded by his wife of 55 years, Marsha Quigley, and his three children Jeff Quigley (Janie), Darin Quigley (Nancy) and Julie Quigley Stovall (Alan), in Grenada, California. He was 73 years old. Gerald was a wonderful grandfather to nine grandkids, Jonathon, Kimberly, and Kassandra Quigley, Becky, Heather, Chelsea, and Brian Quigley, Cody and Dustin Leventon, and two great grandchildren, Paisley and Colt. He was born in Portland, Oregon on June 13, 1944 to Earl and Katherine Quigley. Gerald Quigley was raised in Fortuna and Alturas, CA with his two brothers, Larry and Earl Quigley, and grew up in a logging and ranching family. It was in Alturas where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Marsha Sides. Gerald started his career with CAL FIRE in 1966 in Siskiyou County. Throughout his career he worked in Siskiyou, Nevada/Yuba/Placer, San Luis Obispo, Shasta/Trinity, and Lassen/Modoc counties. He finished his career as a District Ranger in Bieber, California in 1995. During his 29 years of service for the state of California Gerald Quigley was awarded The Medal of Valor and The Carnegie Medal. In 1970, Gerald, at the age of 26 and a fire apparatus engineer, helped to save a fellow engineer from suffocation in an abandoned gold mine. The engineer, and two other men, had entered the gold mine to remove a man who had been overcome by lack of oxygen 2,700 feet from the mine’s entrance shaft. Hamilton lost consciousness carrying the man. Gerald entered the mine and gave air to Hamilton, who responded. Sharing the air from his equipment, Quigley aided Hamilton back to the safe area. Hamilton fully recovered. Efforts of others resulted in the removal of the other two men, one of whom recovered. Gerald also received a Letter of Commendation from the State of California for his actions on the Potrero Fire in 1973. He helped to provide first aid to a fellow fire fighter and did a great deal towards reducing the severity of his injuries. He was also commended for leading his crew in an organized and disciplined manner during a period of extreme danger. He had a passion for baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks, and never missed spring training in Arizona, where he resided for the last 20 years. The family welcomes friends to join them for a celebration of life on March 10th at 1:00 pm at the residence of Alan and Julie Stovall, 7215 Bowen Centers Rd. Yreka, CA 96097.

Gerald Wayne Quigley

June 13, 1944 - February 28, 2018