Baker City, Oregon
Charles Fred “Chuck” Pfeil, 73, of Baker City, died Aug. 18, 2002, with his family by his side on his ranch at Sutton Creek after a courageous 10-month battle with cancer.
His funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane in Baker City. Mr. Darold Parry, 3rd Ward, will conduct the service. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. A dinner at the church will follow the graveside service. Visitations will be today until 7:00 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Mr. Pfeil was born Feb. 11, 1929, at Farmington, W.Va., to Frederick Charles and Sylvia Idella McMullen Pfeil. The Pfeils migrated to the Boise Valley in Chuck’s early years. During his school years, he worked after school as a welder and saved enough money to pay cash for a logging truck upon graduation from Boise High School in 1947. He logged in the Council area from 1947 to 1951. He then went to work for Morrison-Knudsen and became a construction welding supervisor. He help construct the Oxbow and Brownlee Dams and traveled extensively during the 1950s in Africa working on various construction projects. He returned to the states in the late 1950s. During the 1960s and 1970s he owned and operated Easyway Trailer Sales, moving and selling mobile homes in Baker and Union counties. He continually amazed people at how and where he could put a mobile home.
On July 17, 1973, he married Marilyn Martin. They were sealed for time and eternity in the LDS Boise Temple on April 26, 1996, and shared 29 years of marriage. Together they bought and operated the Sutton Creek Ranch. They transformed 300 acres of sagebrush and tar paper shacks into one of the finest alfalfa ranches in the valley. Chuck was always known for ingenuity and mechanical ability when it came to operating his business. He was also known for his “Hey Old Buddy” approach with his friends and he dearly loved and cared for all of his hay customers over the years. He was a wonderful caring man who will be greatly missed.
Chuck was a member of the Baker Valley ward at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served many appointments within the church.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Baker City; a daughter and son-in-law, Diane Snell and Tom Beaver of Baker City, and their daughter, Tracy; a son and daughter-in-law, Duke and Jan Pfeil of Los Angeles, and their son Tim; and a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Cathy Martin of Baker City and their children, Andrew and Anne Marie.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Sylvia Pfeil; and his son, Chris Martin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 23, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor