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Meaningless millions

The Upper Big Branch coal mining disaster in West Virginia in 2010 killed 29 people, including Gary Wayne Quarles. His parents eventually settled their lawsuit with the mining company, but there is little solace to be found.

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Gary Quarles, 56, and Patty Quarles, 52, visit their son's grave at Pineview Cemetery in Orgas, W.Va. The couple will be buried on either side of Gary Wayne Quarles, who died in the Upper Big Branch coal mining disaster on April 5, 2010, at the age of 33.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

A replica of Gary Wayne's hard hat is nailed to a cross outside the plant in West Virginia. Twenty-nine workers were killed in the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in four decades.

A replica of Gary Wayne's hard hat is nailed to a cross outside the plant in West Virginia. Twenty-nine workers were killed in the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in four decades.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Patty Quarles cries as she and Gary try to identify the hard hat their son was wearing at the time of his death. On the left is John D. Wooton, Jr. from the Wooton Law Firm.

Patty Quarles cries as she and Gary try to identify the hard hat their son was wearing at the time of his death. On the left is John D. Wooton, Jr. from the Wooton Law Firm.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

An undated photo shows Gary Wayne Quarles, 33, an employee of what was Massey Energy at the time of the disaster. He had two children and lived in a trailer next to his parents.

An undated photo shows Gary Wayne Quarles, 33, an employee of what was Massey Energy at the time of the disaster. He had two children and lived in a trailer next to his parents.

/ COURTESY OF QUARLES FAMILY

Emergency vehicles leave the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., after the explosion in April 2010. An independent panel blamed the disaster on a corporate culture that put 'the drive to produce coal above worker safety,' but no former high-ranking Massey executives have been criminally charged and no new federal mine safety legislation has passed.

Emergency vehicles leave the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., after the explosion in April 2010. An independent panel blamed the disaster on a corporate culture that put "the drive to produce coal above worker safety," but no former high-ranking Massey executives have been criminally charged and no new federal mine safety legislation has passed.

Jeff Gentner / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gary Quarles meets monthly with a psychiatrist in Beckley, W.Va. Since the explosion that killed his son, he has been taking medication. During the appointment, they discussed panic attacks Quarles experienced while in Washington fighting for mining safety regulations.

Gary Quarles meets monthly with a psychiatrist in Beckley, W.Va. Since the explosion that killed his son, he has been taking medication. During the appointment, they discussed panic attacks Quarles experienced while in Washington fighting for mining safety regulations.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Gary and Patty Quarles have lunch in Beckley, W.Va., after appointments with the lawyer and a psychiatrist. They settled their wrongful-death claim for an undisclosed amount of money. 'I was a busy person before,' Patty said. 'I loved housework. Loved gardening. I've lost interest in everything. Now we can do whatever we want to do, but now we don't want to.'

Gary and Patty Quarles have lunch in Beckley, W.Va., after appointments with the lawyer and a psychiatrist. They settled their wrongful-death claim for an undisclosed amount of money. "I was a busy person before," Patty said. "I loved housework. Loved gardening. I've lost interest in everything. Now we can do whatever we want to do, but now we don't want to."

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Gary Quarles looks at mounted deer heads from the hunting trips he took with his son. 'I always wondered what it'd be like not having to work,' he said. 'I love to hunt. I used to think, 'When I'm retired, when the seasons come in, I can hunt every day.' But see, me and Gary Wayne hunted. It ain't good. It ain't what I hoped it’ve been. Now when I make the trip I cry going in, I cry in the tree stand, I cry coming home. I never know when I might start crying. I don't really understand it.'

Gary Quarles looks at mounted deer heads from the hunting trips he took with his son. "I always wondered what it'd be like not having to work," he said. "I love to hunt. I used to think, 'When I'm retired, when the seasons come in, I can hunt every day.' But see, me and Gary Wayne hunted. It ain't good. It ain't what I hoped it’ve been. Now when I make the trip I cry going in, I cry in the tree stand, I cry coming home. I never know when I might start crying. I don't really understand it."

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Gary Quarles looks at a photograph of his two grandchildren, Trevor and Rabekka. On the shelf are many photos of their son, Gary Wayne, including one showing father and son in their coal mining uniforms. Gary has since retired.

Gary Quarles looks at a photograph of his two grandchildren, Trevor and Rabekka. On the shelf are many photos of their son, Gary Wayne, including one showing father and son in their coal mining uniforms. Gary has since retired.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Gary Quarles sits on his sofa with one of his dogs. Above him is a photo of his son. His wife, Patty, does not cry as much as her husband only because she knows that if she does, then he will fall apart, and then she will fall apart, and if that happens, she said, 'I'm afraid it won't ever stop.'

Gary Quarles sits on his sofa with one of his dogs. Above him is a photo of his son. His wife, Patty, does not cry as much as her husband only because she knows that if she does, then he will fall apart, and then she will fall apart, and if that happens, she said, "I'm afraid it won't ever stop."

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Patty Quarles had a photo of her son tattooed on her leg after his death. Settling with the mining company was a difficult decision and involved a lot of back-and-forth. 'I wanted it over,' she said. 'I wanted it over so bad. At the same time, this is your mom saying this is what your life's worth. Like your mom has sold you out.'

Patty Quarles had a photo of her son tattooed on her leg after his death. Settling with the mining company was a difficult decision and involved a lot of back-and-forth. "I wanted it over," she said. "I wanted it over so bad. At the same time, this is your mom saying this is what your life's worth. Like your mom has sold you out."

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Gary Quarles looks out the window of his house at his son's trailer. Memorial stickers are plastered to his front door. With some of the money from the settlement, they put a new roof on Gary Wayne's trailer and put in new furniture, even though no one lives there. But the money hasn't lessened a father's grief. 'It won't never leave me,' he said.

Gary Quarles looks out the window of his house at his son's trailer. Memorial stickers are plastered to his front door. With some of the money from the settlement, they put a new roof on Gary Wayne's trailer and put in new furniture, even though no one lives there. But the money hasn't lessened a father's grief. "It won't never leave me," he said.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

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