Obituary: Robey, Charles Hartley
Age 84
He moved to Spokane at age two when his father took a position with the federal Land Bank.
Chuck attended Wilson Grade School and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1948.
He attended his mother’s alma mater, the University of Montana.
He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1953.
He served with honor as a member of the US Army CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) in Japan for two years.
He was employed by the Cowles Publishing Company in the Advertising Department and retired in 1987.
He was an active member of the Spokane Philharmonic Board, Spokane Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Lilac Festival.
Upon his retirement he served as the President of the first and only Spokane Grand Prix Auto Race through the streets of downtown Spokane.
His remembrance of the event was “it was like building a battleship one day and dismantling it the next.”
He also worked for the Journal Business and Eastman Kodak.
He was a founding member of the Lake Coeur d’Alene Star sailing fleet and the Cougar Bay Sailing Club and Chowder Society.
In 1960 he married his first and only wife, Ellen and they spent many wonderful hours sailing with friends on Lake Coeur d’Alene, the San Juan Islands and the Caribbean.
They journeyed to Europe and England and attended several America’s Cup Races.
Chuck had his first sailboat at the age of twelve on Newman Lake and was an avid sailor.
He loved cars, planes and boats….all kinds and all vintages.
He was a voracious reader and collector of books on those and other subjects.
His favorite place was the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana.
He is survived by Ellen, his sister, Cathrine Lund; sisters-in-law, Doris Taylor, Emogene Sellars and Rella Reimann; brother-in-law, Ron Reimann and nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Lund, Jennifer Cox, Reid Reimann, Dan Sellars, Marcia Monma, Michelle Grace, Thad Taylor, Denise Knight and Angela Waddell.
He was predeceased by is parents and brother George.
Special thanks to his remarkable caregiver, Louise Sekut, to the multitude of friends who visited him faithfully for many months and to the “reader”, Tom Burns.
Chuck died peacefully in his sleep at his home.
His family and friends can imagine him hoisting the mainsail for this, his final journey.
There will be a Memorial service in the spring when sailing season begins.
Donations may be made to the University of Montana Endowment Fund or a charity of your choice.