UPDATE: Memorial update submitted by the family:

Dear friends and family of Carl Chatfield and Susan Anderson are invited to attend their Celebration of Life, the CarlSusan Fest, on Saturday, 8/27, at 2:00 at the Arcata Community Center, 321 Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway, Arcata, CA. Dinner, dancing , laughter, storytelling, tears, love & so much music will prevail.  Hawaiian shirts, bright, sparkly attire of all types suggested.  Please join their families in honoring this iconic Humboldt County couple.  This will be a community potluck with guests bringing only appetizers/finger food or desserts.  Guests may bring beverages of their choosing.  We look forward to sharing our fine memories of Susan & Carl on this day of farewell.

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Carl Leslie Chatfield was welcomed into this world August 29, 1941 in Long Beach by Leslie Eugene Chatfield and Barbara Augusta Webster Chatfield. He died from heart and lung complications on May 6, 2016 at the age of 74, and was buried in a private ceremony in Blue Lake, near Arcata, his home. Carl was beloved by his family and friends, and was a key part of a large Arcata area community of friends he helped build for over 50 years. He was a gentle, loving, joy-filled husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, brightening the lives of all around him.

Carl moved with his family to England in 1957, graduating from an American high school, Central High in Bushy Park, near London. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1963. Carl chose to join the Peace Corps, learning French and serving in the first Peace Corps group in Guinea, West Africa. After teaching English as a second language and traveling to Timbuktu and other remarkable locales, he moved to Arcata in 1965 in his VW bug. There he earned his teaching credential and completed his Masters Degree in Education at Humboldt State University. Carl taught English at McKinleyville (CA) High School for 33 years, and is remembered by many students whose lives he touched. During his career he was the key Club Advisor for 27 years, McKinleyville Kiwanis Club president and Language Arts Department Chair.

Carl had three children during his first marriage, to Joanne Vest Chatfield: Geoff, Greg and Margaret, all of whom excelled at McKinleyville High. 

He married Susan Gayle Anderson in 1998, and after retiring in 1999, helped with Susan’s jam business, Mad River Farms, became a part-time caregiver and masseur and continued his lifelong pursuit of fine literature. He and Susan traveled as much as possible, especially enjoying Guatemala, Thailand and most recently, Australia. They visited much of the U.S. and spent significant time with each of their families. Carl, always an artist and musician (a fine cellist), honed his weaving and painting skills during retirement, and continued singing in the HSU Chorale up until shortly before he died.

Carl loved being outdoors, hiking, whitewater kayaking and big-river rafting, early on with his children and latterly with Susan and friends. We remember his stories: a terrifying passage through the tunnel at Big French Creek, chasing bears while camping with his kids, fighting forest fires during college, being attacked by Teddy Boys while bicycling in England, and riding an elephant in Thailand. He adventured all his life. He marks as a life highlight listening in on cellist Pablo Casals’ master class at UC Berkeley.

Carl most valued being with and caring for his friends and family. He approached these relationships honoring the dignity of all those with whom he came in contact. He brought great joy to the communities of family and friends he embraced and who loved him deeply.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest brother, Mark. He is survived by the love of his life, Susan; his three children, their spouses and children — Geoffrey, Hoa and daughter Tate; Greg, Catherine Gutfreund and sons Ben and Sam; and Margaret and Michael Pietrak and son Zeke — his brothers Bruce and David and David’s wife Jo Ann Madigan; and his remarkable and supportive community in the Arcata area. We are greatly saddened by his passing, but will remember most the cheer and happiness this sweet soul brought to our lives.

A celebration of Carl’s life will be organized in Arcata at a later date. He wished that donations would be made to Greenpeace, Sierra Club, North Coast Environmental Center, Humboldt Baykeeper in lieu of flowers.  

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The obituary above was submitted by Carl Chatfield’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.