Charles William Dawes was born in San Jose, California March 19, 1941 to George and Julie Dawes of Stockton, MO. He was a big baby boy and at 3 months weighed 30 pounds, because his southern mama fed him mashed potatoes and gravy.

Growing up in the most prolific fruit belt of the bay area, he ran free as a boy from orchard to orchard eating apricots, cherries, pears and prunes. Walnut and almond trees bloomed right along with grape vineyards and rolling fields and strawberries.

Charlie was a quiet boy, thought to be "retarded", since he was not given to much talk. He had big blue eyes and sticky-up hair, but it was the deep dimples that gave him such a winning smile. He remembers carrying a tin lunch pail to school with a pocketful of marbles and a string yo-yo. He was often in trouble because of rock throwing at the school bus and burning down his granddads garage.

After growing up and just out of high school he met Candy Bartlett on a blind date. Neither one liked each other but God had his hand on this couple bringing them into a good marriage with two children, Melissa (Misty) and Danny. By this time, Candy started calling Charlie "Chuck" (as Charlie seemed to old-fashioned). At this time Chuck was working at Ford Motor Co. when he decided to enter the Inhalation Therapy Program offered at Foothill College. He worked at El Camino Hospital and later was Chief Director at Kaiser Hospital.

By now California had become over crowded with too much crime. It was time to relocate and move to a rural area. Chuck and Candy opened the map and their eyes fell on a little state called Idaho. Something so "right" sounded good so with a few phone calls made, Chuck received a position at the Bear Lake Hospital. The condo was sold the Volvo packed and the family ready to move to Dingle, Idaho. Now their adventure began.

Chuck bought a hammer and nails and started building. Life on the farm was good raising kids and animals and getting wood out of the canyons.

For a time Chuck played bass guitar for a little country group called Dan Don and The Bear Lake Honeys.

The years went by and now Chuck was grandfathered in as a lab technician. He had become a born again Christian and was baptized in Bear Lake in Oct. Brrrrrr.

There was always wonderful opportunities and people in Bear Lake and life was at its best. The kids were married and grandkids on the way. Chuck was diagnosed with Leukemia, discovering this himself through a Hospital Health check. Through it all Chuck still kept busy getting wood in and keeping up Candy's holly hock garden.

As time passed Chuck and Candy knew they would soon be parted. They spent all their time together holding hands, baking pies and having coffee at the Ranch Hand.

Chuck loved Christmas, so Candy decorated the kids did the shopping and Braydan helped make the pies. The stockings were all stuffed and Chuck watched. He joked about getting out of work and letting Home Health take care of him. After all he said; It's all about me!

On January 13, 2012 Chuck passed away knowing he would be in heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus.

He leaves behind his wife Candy, daughter Melissa (Merlin) Kulicke and son, Danny (Shauna McMurray) Dawes. Four grandchildren Matthew Kulicke, Mckenzie Kulicke, Chanelle Volbrecht and Braydan Dawes; and God children, Charity (Crkovich) Williams and Chiana DeVesti; a brother Gary Dawes and a sister Margie (Doug) Warr. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Helen Scorsonelli.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the National California - Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier at 1 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Center prior to services. Burial will be in the Dingle Cemetery. A light luncheon will be held at the House of Free Prayer Vineyard Church following the burial.