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Charles Earl Dowers, 94

Charles Earl Dowers died at home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on March 10, 2018. Charles or “Chuck,” as he was best known, was born to Walter Earl and Mary Lucille (Hann) Dowers on Dec. 7, 1923, in Chugwater, Wyo. His father passed away when he was 5 years old and his mother passed two years later, leaving Chuck and his older brother, Don, orphans. They were taken in and raised by various family members on their farms and ranches in southeast Wyoming.

Chuck grew up a cowboy; herdin’ cows, fixin’ fence and breakin’ broncs. His transportation to school was by horseback. For his senior year of high school, he came to Coeur d’Alene and lived with his Uncle Chet and Aunt Louise, graduated in 1942, and returned to Wyoming to work on a ranch with his granddad.

But ever since the bombing of Pearl Harbor on his 18th birthday, he longed to get “in the fight” and so enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, where he served as a tail gunner on a B24 Bomber in the South Pacific until the end of the war.

Returning to Wyoming, he attended the University of Wyoming, where he met and married Diane McMillen on Oct. 13, 1947. The newlyweds moved to Topeka, Kan., where their son, Terry, was born. Coming back to Wyoming, they settled down on a ranch near Hawk Springs and there a daughter, Catherine, and later twins, Janice and Jeannette, were born. During this time Chuck was struck with polio and was bedridden with the debilitating disease. A missionary was passing through and heard of his plight and came by and prayed for healing — and healing did come. This kindness had an impact on him, and a short time later he gave his life to Christ at the Berean Church in Torrington, Wyo., in 1952.

Chuck never forgot about his time in Coeur d’Alene, and in 1955 they loaded all their belongings and farm equipment on a rail car and moved the family to North Idaho. Later that year he purchased a farm on Mica Flats and over the next few years a daughter, Julia, and a son, Robert, were born. Besides working the family farm and raising a passel of children with Diane, Chuck worked at various times as a welder, machinist, school bus driver, and he owned an excavating business. He was involved with Bethel Baptist Church for many years and had a close walk with his Lord Jesus Christ all his life.

Chuck was known as a hard worker and a man of great integrity. His greatest accomplishments were a life lived in humble faith before his God and a lasting legacy of descendants who were impacted by that life.

He was preceded in death by his bride of 69 years, Diane, nearly a year ago. He is survived by their six children, Terry Dowers, Catherine Steinback, Janice Sawyer, Jeannette Enns, Julia Meredith and Robert Dowers; their spouses; 20 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service in honor of Chuck at 1 p.m. on Good Friday, March 30, 2018, at the Mica Flats Grange. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Chuck’s memorial page and sign in online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com