Charles Edward Norris of Montesano passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at his Montesano home. He was 94. Charles was born May 17, 1922, to George and Ellen (Erickson) Norris in Astoria, Ore. He went on to spend his childhood in Hoquiam, Wash.
At the age of 20 Charles joined the U.S. Army and when he returned home worked at the local lumber mills and ran fishing boats out of Westport.
While working on the Cross Sound they were caught in a hurricane and unable to make harbor. They turned into the storm and headed south. Charles had tied himself to the mast of the boat so if they sank his body could be found.
Charles was a founding father of Washington Crab Producers. He fished his own boats The Tillie M. and The Jamey S. up and down the coast from Alaska to California fishing for crab and Albacore Tuna.
During his golden years Charles married Lillian Beardslee on March 11, 1972. On that day Charles became a husband, a father, a father-in-law and a grandfather. He was elated he and Lillian enjoyed 44 years of marriage until her death last June.
When Charles retired from fishing he went to work in Alaska being the handyman at his son-in-law’s logging company, Norm Aubuchon Inc. He retired again and came back to Montesano only to be found cutting firewood with his grandson Lyle Bowe.
Charles was a proud lifetime member of the FOE. He was the McGiver of the neighborhood making bicycles for all the kids. You would always find Charlie wherever there were kids. He’d be swinging them on his patio or drawing “Number 5 guy”. Charles would cook fish and rice for the family and loved when we’d all come home and make noise.
Charles lived in McCleary at the Beehive Assisted Living Facility until falling and breaking his hip. He went to live at his home in Montesano with his youngest daughter Cindy and her husband Dennis and his great-grandson Kamron.
Charles is survived at the family home by his daughter Cindy and her husband Dennis; his sisters Joan Schnieder of Olympia, Janice Smith of Hoquiam and Sally and her husband Pete of Hoquiam; grandsons Matthew (Shelley) Aubuchon and Lyle Bowe (Liezel); granddaughters Angi and Toni Aubuchon and Cora (Sean) Webster; and four great-grandchildren Shondeen and Aiden Bowe, Kamron Kelsey and Rylee Anne Webster all of Montesano; and lifelong friends and fishing partner Fred (Jenny) Bache.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents George and Ellen Norris; two brothers George and Walter; three sisters Phyllis, Marian, Pat; as well as his daughters Patsy Aubuchon (Norm Aubuchon) and Mary Secor (John Secor).
Charles will be given back to the ocean at a later time, to be announced later. To share memories or express condolences visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Harrison Family Mortuary of Montesano is honored to assist the family.
