Charles Henry Christian, 87

Charles Henry Christian was born on December 26, 1937, in Morton, Washington, to William and Marie Christian. Growing up on a farm near Elbe, Washington, Charlie enjoyed his free time hunting and fishing along the banks of the Nisqually River and Lake Alder, at the base of Mount Rainier.

He left home at seventeen and found a job in Seattle on a tugboat headed north, where he was able to visit with his aunt and uncle, Ed and Vivian Wood, in Petersburg, Alaska. Charlie liked being out on the water, so when he turned eighteen he joined the Navy and served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway CVA-41. After being discharged in late 1960, he returned to the Elbe area, where he met and married Dorothy Boyd of Mineral, Washington.

Charlie had loved his time in Alaska, so in 1962 he and Dorothy moved to Petersburg. Soon after arriving, he went to work for Reid Brothers at their logging camp in Thomas Bay. Setting up home in a float house was the beginning of a lifetime of adventure. They had two sons, Brian and Ernie, and their daughter Brenda before moving back to Peterburg when Brian was old enough to attend school. Charlie's work logging and building roads took them throughout Southeast Alaska, and up to Kenai as he built a reputation as the best cat skinner around.

At the young age of 75, Charlie officially retired from B.W. Enterprises in Wrangell, Alaska, to enjoy more time doing the things he loved – fishing, hunting and using his logging expertise for serious firewood gathering with his sons. He was happy to give advice on all aspects of hunting or fishing – and pretty much anything else. Driving out the road to check on Thom's creek or to scope out timber for firewood, he'd stop to chat with anyone along the way, happy to swap stories about the good old days in Southeast Alaska.

Charlie passed away from pancreatic cancer on April 27, 2025, in Wrangell, Alaska. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Christian; his uncle, Ed (Vivian) Wood; and his sister, Betty Christian.

He is survived by his former wife, Dorothy; his sons, Brian (Trista) and Ernie (Rhonda); daughter, Brenda; nephew, Kenny Christian; grandsons, Brian (Laura) Christian Jr., Michael (Lacy) Christian, and William Thomas; granddaughter, Serina Thomas; great-grandsons, Bryson and Carsyn Christian; great-granddaughter, Ashlyn Christian; cousins, Eddie (Suzi) Wood, Kathy Wood, Lanorma (David) Pedmore, and Glenna Clark; as well as many friends.