Charles Andrew Yeaw, Sr.

Charles Andrew Yeaw, Sr. passed away August 28th at the age of 91. He was born on December 14th, 1933, in Barons, Alberta, the oldest son of Charles and Rose Yeaw. A year later the family moved to Priest River, Idaho and with the birth of his brothers Gary, Orlean and Leroy the family was complete.

His school years were spent in Priest River. He was an all-around athlete playing football, boxing and track. He worked weekends at Doolittle’s sawmill riding the carriage. He tramped all around the Priest Lake area hunting and camping as a kid and happily continued this for many years with his son, brother Gary and nephews. The cabin on Hungry Mountain holds many memories as does camping on the river with Muriel. He loved the outdoors.

He landed a job after high school with the Great Northern Railroad, met and fell in love with Muriel Morrow and then was drafted into the Army and shipped out to Korea. After serving his time he returned to Priest River and married Muriel, and they moved to the Hillyard neighborhood in Spokane to begin their life together. A year later they purchased a house on Bessie Road in the Pasadena neighborhood in Spokane valley that would be their home for over 60 years. It was here they welcomed their first child Charles Jr. and 4 years later a daughter Julia.

Charlie went to Molar Barber School and Cady’s Beauty School on the GI Bill. When not working as a brakeman switchman on the Burlington Northern Railroad (which he did for 30 years) he was cutting, setting and perming hair at Francisco’s and throughout the neighborhood.

He had a love for baseball; he coached and mentored young men in Little League and at St Paschals. He transitioned from coaching to umpiring spending many years behind the plate calling balls and strikes. Charlie was a lifetime fan of the Yankees and Huskies.

Charlie was very active in the Masonic Order. From participating in the Moonshriners in parades and making elephant ears at the county fair, sponsoring and helping at the Shriners Children’s Hospital, to being a member of the Rose Croix funeral team participating in over 250 funerals, to working at pancake breakfasts and spaghetti feeds.

His Canadian family held a special place in his heart. He and Muriel made numerous trips to Alberta for family reunions, weddings, graduations and just to visit.

Charlie loved his vitamin B (Budweiser Beer); you could often find him socializing at one of the local bars, playing pull tabs, telling stories or reciting one of the many poems he knew by heart

He was a lifelong gardener. He and Muriel grew and canned everything, Charlie taking special pride in his sauerkraut. Their granddaughters, Ellen and Rachel, grew up next door to them, giving them the wonderful opportunity to share their passion for gardening, cooking, baking and canning.

When events led to them moving to Riverview Assisted Living Apartments their granddaughters were able to purchase the home, keeping the beloved home and memories in the family.

During his 3 years of living at Riverview, he made new friends and a new sense of community and strived to make it a better place, including salad bar improvements.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Leroy and his daughter-in-law Michelle. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Muriel Yeaw, his siblings Gary Yeaw (Susan) & Orlean Yeaw, his son Charles Yeaw Jr, daughter Julia Postlewait (Jeff) and granddaughters Ellen & Rachel.