Donald L. “Tops” Shakley

Donald L. “Tops” Shakley, 87, a lifelong Petrolia resident and former fire chief, went to be with the Lord while in the company of his loving wife early Monday morning, September 8, 2025, at Quality Life Services in Chicora, PA.

Donald was born in Petrolia on April 7, 1938. He was the son of the late Harry and Garnet Shoup Shakley.

He was a 1957 graduate of Karns City High School and was a long-time active member of the Karns City United Methodist Church. Don served in the Army National Guard 28th Division for seven years.  He worked at Sonneborn/Witco until his retirement in 2000. During his time at Witco he became involved with their fire department and served the refinery as fire chief.

Surviving is his wife, Mary K. Snyder Shakley, whom he married at the Petrolia Presbyterian Church on April 25, 1959.

Don was very active in the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department and served the department in many different capacities, and was the fire chief for many years. He especially loved working to raise money through the annual carnival, and often planned and organized the parade during carnival week.

Don served as a Fairview Township supervisor for 10 years and started many events for the kids in the community, such as ice-skating on the pond, dances after basketball games, etc. He loved to serve people in any way he could, which was evident through all the activities he did while living in Petrolia.

Tops loved all sports, but his passion was baseball. He played on many local teams and coached Little League for Petrolia for several years. He loved working with the young kids and sharing his love of the game with them. He also belonged to the KC Quarterback Club when his son played football and served as President of that Club. Another passion of Don's was duck-pin bowling. He spent many nights at the Petrolia bowling alley, setting the pins and bowling in leagues.

One of his many passions was cooking meals and raising money for different groups. He began having dinners at his church, including Peach Festivals, Mother-Daughter banquets, and birthday dinners. His ability to get everyone involved with helping and making the work fun was incredible. No one ever left one of his dinners hungry.

Surviving are two children, Donald J. Shakley and his wife Valerie, of Ashburn VA and Lori D. Kriebel and her husband Tim, of Sligo; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Michael (Ashley) Shakley of Pittsburgh, Nicole (Jake) Kellner, Abigail Shakley (Devin Robinson), Daniel and Matthew Shakley, all of Ashburn, VA; two step granddaughters, Jessica (Tim) Reed of Pittsburgh and Kimberly Kriebel; two step great grandchildren, Cadence and Preston Reed of Pittsburgh; two sisters, Jeannie Shakley of Parker and Peg Merryman of Polk, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a brother-in-law.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Wallace, Dean, and Allan Shakley, an infant sister, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Mary Snyder, and three sisters-in-law, Barbara Donaldson, JoAnn Wigton, and Norita Bell.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 6 - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 11, 2025, from the funeral home with the Rev. Dennis Barger, a long-time family friend, officiating, and Chaplain Amy Worline of Quality Life Services, Chicora, co-officiating. The interment will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.

Members of the Petrolia Fire Dept. will conduct a memorial service on Wednesday and a “final call” at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Members of the Chicora and Brady’s Bend American Legion Posts will accord military honors at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the funeral home. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Petrolia Fire Dept., P.O. Box 237, Petrolia, PA 16050, or the Karns City United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 89, Karns City, PA 16041.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.