Charles Edward Dyer

Charles Edward Dyer passed away peacefully on February 27, 2026 in Spokane, Washington. Chuck was born on May 29, 1935 in Spokane to Charles and Emma (Etue) Dyer. Chuck had one full sister, Lorraine, and six half-siblings from his mother's first marriage, Arthur, Leola, Zelva, Minnie, Emmett, and Laura, who all pre-deceased him, most recently his beloved sister Lorraine in December. Chuck was also particularly close to his older sister Minnie, who with her husband Carl raised he and Lorraine while their mother was working in Spokane.

As a member of the Spokane Indian tribe, Chuck lived his first 12 years on the reservation in Wellpinit, Washington and later in Spokane. When he was 15, the family moved to Rice, Washington, and Chuck left school to get a job to support his mother and younger sister.

Chuck had two daughters, Jocelyn and Charlene, with his first wife Evelyn Counts. On July 8, 1972, he married Sandra Cecilia Dawes, and for the next nearly 52 years Chuck and Sandy enjoyed many adventures camping, snowmobiling, and traveling the western U.S., Canada, and to Virginia and Florida.

Chuck worked at the lumber mill in Lincoln, Washington for 20 years until the mill closed, and for 16 years at Graingrowers Elevators in Wilbur, first at the elevators and then in the hardware store, where he continued on a part-time basis after he retired. He volunteered for years for the Wilbur Fire and Ambulance Department.

Chuck had many hobbies in his life, maintaining with great care many Ford Model T and Model A antique cars, often touring in one of the antique cars and enjoying parades and road trips with other members of the Spokane Model T club. Chuck and Sandy became snowbirds after retirement, rotating with the seasons between Needles, California, and Wilbur. They also enjoyed many camping adventures in the Republic/Curlew area. He and Sandy loved being members of a motorcycle “gang” from Wilbur, and traveled the better portion of the American west on their Honda Goldwing with this group of dear friends. Later in life, he became passionate about tractors, proudly driving down main street Wilbur for the annual parade and even plowing out stuck cars during particularly snowy winters.

Chuck was always a man on the go, and could make an adventure out of a simple drive in the country. He loved the natural beauty of the Republic, Washington area, often going for drives there on the spur of the moment.

In 2024, Chuck was honored by the Wilbur community as the Grand Marshal during the Wild Goose Days parade. Chuck was a fixture in Wilbur and surrounding areas, and especially after Sandy passed away, he would make his daily rounds to visit various businesses and friends. His quiet strength, warm heart, strong values, and enduring wisdom will be greatly missed by so many whose lives he touched.

Chuck is survived by his daughter Jocelyn Hemenway (Shoni Gray) of Airway Heights, stepdaughter Charmaine Berg of Spokane and stepson Chuck Berg of Wilbur, daughter-in-law Jana Berg, son-in-law John Tuininga, six grandsons Don (Bridget) Hemenway of Nine Mile, Charlie (Brittany) Hemenway of Deer Park, Adam (Jessica) Berg of Deer Park, Colton Berg (Akaycia Foster) of Wilbur, Dane (Brittney) Berg of Spokane, Dakota (Natalia) Berg of Syracuse, NY, and 10 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of 51 years Sandra Cecilia Dyer, daughter Charlene Tuininga, and stepson Cliff Berg.

A memorial service will be held at Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Washington at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday March 29, 2026, followed by a celebration of life beginning at 2:00pm at the Big Bend Golf and Country Club in Wilbur, Washington. Light lunch food will be served at the golf course.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Chuck's memory can be made to the all-volunteer Wilbur Ambulance Crew at City of Wilbur, P.O. Box 214, Wilbur, WA 99185. Checks should be specifically notated for the Ambulance Crew.