Charles Norman Charleston

Charles Norman Charleston, age 85, was called home by his Maker on April 8, 2013, in Crescent City, CA. He was born June 29, 1927 in Portland, OR to parents Carl and Hilma Charlston of Brush Prairie, WA. He graduated from Battle Ground WA High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Esther Lucille Cracraft in Rock Island, IL, August 5, 1950. He worked in Washington, Oregon, and Del Norte County California for 50 years as a timber faller for various companies including Simonson Lumber, Arcata Redwood, and his own logging company. He also worked with his wife in their real estate business, Charleston Realty, in Crescent City. He was passionate about being outdoors: tending his yard and garden, raising cattle, hunting, and walking on the beach. He also enjoyed traveling: visiting relatives in Washington and the Midwest, a week every spring in Mexico, numerous house boating excursions on Lake Shasta with extended family, a trip to Sweden (homeland of his ancestors), trips to Hawaii, and cruises. Most of all, he was a family man. He was a lifetime member of the Lutheran church, a Sunday school teacher, an elder and president of the Grace Lutheran Church in Crescent City, CA. He had a deep, abiding faith in Christ Jesus. He is survived by: his wife of 62 years Esther Lucille; son John, his wife Shelley, and their children Marsina, Josh, Tiffany, Christi, and Jeff; son Paul, his wife Anne, and their children Kate and Graham; son Daniel and his daughter Deanna; daughter Martha Morgan and her husband Mike of Gasquet, CA, and their children Ross and Laura; ten great-grandchildren; his sister Margaret Fredrickson and her husband Duane of Washougal, WA; nephew Buford Sanders; niece Carol Baush; numerous cousins; brother-in-law Leonard Cracraft and his wife Nadine; sisters-in-law Mildred Parkhurst and Marlene Cracraft; numerous of his wife's nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother David Charlston; his sister Constance Sanders, nieces Kathy Yanasak and JoAnn Anderson all of Washougal, WA; and nephew Robert Charles Sanders; his daughter-in-law Debbie Charleston and grandson Matthew Charleston of Crescent City, CA. He was a wonderful son, brother, cousin, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He was a gentle giant, a shining example of a man: calm and courageous, hard-working and humble, appreciative and authentic, responsible and righteous, loyal and long-suffering, earnest and endearing, strong and steady. He was widely loved and will be deeply missed. We are thankful for the time we had together and the memories we share. A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 14, from 12 to 3pm at Wier's Mortuary in Crescent City. A funeral service will be held at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Washougal, WA, on Saturday, April 20, at 10am. Interment will be at Elim Lutheran Cemetery in Brush Prairie, WA. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Crescent City, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Washougal, WA or Good Samaritan Society/Curry Village in Brookings, OR.

Charles Norman Charleston

June 29, 1927 - April 8, 2013