Bradford Mark Cherrier, age 54, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in a snowmachine accident near his property in Nikiski, Alaska.How does one encompass the life of a person who's touched the hearts and souls of so many?Brad was born on Dec. 24, 1961, to parents Donna and Wayne Cherrier in Anchorage, Alaska, where he remained a lifelong resident. As a Christmas Eve baby, he reveled in the idea of having his favorite pizza dinner instead of Christmas dinner, and joked about his birthday gifts being wrapped in Christmas paper and put under the tree. He was the oldest of four children, succeeded by his siblings Peter, Monique and Curtis. Brad attended the Central Washington University in 1980 and, after only five years, graduated with a bachelor's degree in business, as well as a "minor" in golfing, though his certificate didn't show it!In 1993, he somehow convinced his now-former wife Sheri Cherrier, with whom he kept a close friendship until the end of his days, to marry him. Together they had two children, Madeleine and Colton Cherrier, born in 1996 and 1998 respectively, whom he loved almost as much as he loved fishing.Brad could be described as a jack-of-all-trades. He could also be described as a hard-ass, although the former was a more common adjective. Whether it was mechanical, electrical, plumbing or carpentry, if it was broken, he could fix it. And, of course, as is befitting of a stereotypical handyman, you could be sure the only thing he would ever charge a friend was a thank-you.An ardent outdoorsman, if you couldn't get a hold of Brad, it was likely because he was spending his free time enjoying the bounties of nature. Skiing, dirt biking, snow machining and four-wheeling were all common activities that he enjoyed at his leisure, most often at his property in Nikiski, where he intended to build a small cabin someday. Even though he was not as avid a traveler as other members of his household, he enjoyed having many friends and family from across the globe, from Seattle to Scotland, who could tell a great story or two about their adventures together.In a few carefully selected words from the Thesaurus, Brad was a boisterous, gregarious, affable and dependable man who changed the lives of everyone he met (almost always for the better). A beloved father, son, brother and friend, Brad left this world and the people in his life with nothing but love and compassion in their hearts to have had the pleasure of knowing a person like him. He will be greatly missed by all his family, friends and the Anchorage community.He was predeceased by his father, Wayne Cherrier. He is survived by his children, Madeleine and Colton Cherrier; his mother, Donna Cherrier; his siblings, Peter, Monique and Curtis Cherrier; and his former wife, Sheri Cherrier.A public visitation will be held at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street in Anchorage on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Parish, 825 Klevin Street, on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the Embassy Suites, 600 East Benson Blvd, in the Imagine Ballroom from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016.