Charles Boyer Jr.

CHARLES BOWYER JR.

On December 17, 2015, at the break of day, Charley Bowyer, age 84, raised anchor and sailed away on his final cruise.

Charley was born on January 16, 1931 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Charles Sr. and Anna Mae Bowyer.   Charley was the youngest of seven children with three older brothers and three older sisters. The family was living in the old “Sullivan” farmhouse near Shoshone Falls at the time. The family moved south of Kimberly to a 3 room house that had no running water or electricity and lived there until 1942 before moving to Twin Falls. Charley attended Elementary School in Kimberly and attended Jr. High and High School in Twin Falls, graduating from Twin Falls High School in 1948. On June 1, 1948, shortly after graduation, Charley enlisted in the United States Navy, a childhood ambition.

Charley met his future wife, Deon Ford, in high school. Their first date was to Charley’s Jr. Prom. Charley was 16 and Deon was 15 at the time. Charley and Deon were married on August 2, 1951 in Twin Falls. Charley and Deon had 4 children, three sons, Charles III, Gary, and Dennis, and one daughter, Carla Deon.

After serving in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, 2 months, and 2 days, Charley was honorably discharged on August 3, 1968. Charley retired as a Chief Petty Officer. During his service to the Navy, Charley and his family lived in Honolulu HI, San Diego CA, Memphis TN, Sunnyvale CA, Corpus Christi TX, Jacksonville FL, and Escondido CA. Charley spent many years of service in the Navy aboard ship on cruises throughout the world.

After retiring from the Navy, Charley moved his family back to Idaho to be near both Charley and Deon’s families in Twin Falls. Charley worked many years as a car salesman for several local dealerships and in Wells, NV. Charley also owned and operated two businesses, Twin Falls Brake and Petroleum and Rock Creek Auto Sales, in Twin Falls. Charley was working for Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV before fully retiring in 1993. During his retirement years Charley worked at several part time jobs in the area.

Charley is survived by two sons, Charles III (Laurie) Bowyer and Dennis Bowyer, and one daughter, Carla (Roger) Lassen, 8 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Charley was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sr. and Anna Mae Bowyer, his wife Deon Bowyer, three brothers, Cecil, Milo, and Bobby Bowyer, 3 sisters, Mary Louise (Betty) Gilman, Gail Newcomb, and Eula Mae Rush, and one son, Gary Bowyer.

A celebration of Charley’s life will be held at 11 am January 9, 2016 at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho. In lieu of flowers the family would like you to donate to your favorite charity in Charley’s name.

ANCHORS AWEIGH (vs. 2)

Anchors Aweigh my boys,

Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to foreign shores,

We sail at the break of day.

Through our last night ashore,

Drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more.

Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home.

Anchors Aweigh, Charley.

Epilogue: Aweigh means an action has been completed. The anchor is aweigh when it is pulled from the bottom. This event is dutifully reported in the ship’s log.