Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Chirls S. Duty
Chirls (Charly) S. Duty, Sr., 82, long-time resident of Farmington, died Sunday, July 31, 2011, at his home. A private family graveside service will be in the Mountain View Cemetery at Farmington. Memorial services will be Saturday, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m. at the Farmington Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Born Dec. 20, 1928, in Pauls Valley, Okla., to Hubert and Opal Ferguson Duty, he moved several times with his family while growing up because his dad worked in the oil fields.
He married Couleen Wagner of Farmington Aug. 3, 1950.
Shortly after they were married, Charly enlisted in the U.S. Army and served overseas in Pusan, Korea, as a hospital medic.
He was honorably discharged in 1953 and returned to Farmington.
They have lived in the same house in Farmington since.
He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad on a section crew for five years and then spent a couple of years working for area farmers.
He then worked for Gordon T. Shaw Grain Co., for several years before he injured his back in a fall and was forced to retire.
He attended Spokane Community College and completed a course in printing.
He got a job at the Washington State University printing department and worked there for nearly 18 years until retiring in 1985.
He was a member of the Farmington Seventh-day Adventist Church and served on the Farmington Fire Department and Farmington City Council at various times. He enjoyed reading, gardening, wood-working, especially making things on his lathe. He also wrote a book about his childhood, growing up and his military service.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Couleen; son Chirls, Jr. of Spokane, daughter Tanya Thygeson of Farmington; a brother, Earl Duty, Hilo, Hawaii; a sister, Vesper Cuawe, Deer Park; three grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sandra Lyn, in 1963; a grandson, Jesse, and granddaughter, Cozetta.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Farmington SDA Church or the Farmington/Garfield EMTs.
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