Barton Sollars Jr. Dies; Former Sitkan was 71

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Tuesday, 27 February 2024 14:57

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Barton Austin Sollars Jr.

Barton Austin Sollars Jr. (April 13, 1951-November 15, 2023) was born and raised in Sitka. He was the third generation of pioneers to call Alaska home, but the first generation born here. Having grown up in a raw wild land before it was even a state, instilled in him a wild adventurous spirit.
He was in commercial fishing with his parents and three siblings, and later bought their family fishing vessel Bertha R from his dad. He spent some time learning to weld on the Alaska pipeline, and after owning the boat for many years he sold it and worked construction and as a welder in Petersburg and Juneau.
   In the 1980s he moved his wife and small kids to a remote logging area in Saginaw Bay near Kake. He and his brother eventually began the purchase of a two-acre plot of land at Point Agassiz, ten miles north of Petersburg. For many years his time was spent between Agassiz and fishing in Sitka, with some time fishing around the Aleutian Islands. When he retired he eventually moved to Agassiz full time.
He loved felling big trees, hunting, fishing, fireworks, the great outdoors and most of all his grandkids. He loved camping and trail blazing, family deer hunts and fishing.
He had a strong work ethic, he worked hard and played hard. He had a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be missed greatly. If he didn’t know how to do something he tried until he figured it out.
He loved animals and deep down was a gentle soul even if he came off rough on the outside. He didn’t often express it, and to his family he was a silent man. Get him telling stories to his friends and he could talk for quite awhile. Slow and steady, he just did what needed done.
He had been battling cancer for a few years but was doing quite well. On September 15, 2023, he unexpectedly passed away possibly due to a weak heart.
He will be remembered by the legacy of knowledge he has passed on to his kids, and what they will pass to the next generation.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carol A. and Barton A. Sollars Sr., and brothers Thomas and Lyman.
He is survived by his wife Debra Sollars (Diamond); sister Lorna Chappel; and his children Barton J. Sollars (Anca), Amy Ward (Phillip), Tabitha Nelson (Victor), and Austin Sollars (Tara).
Also surviving are his niece and nephew Tina and Jason Chappel; his grandchildren Nahjahra Lopez (Sergio), Alexandra, Ronan, Skyelar, Zephyr, Robert, Revan, and Waylon; and great-grandchild Lucifer along with his soon to be sibling.
A remembrance event will be held at Point Agassiz in early June. Anyone wishing to attend can contact  daughter Tabitha at 907-518-0299 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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