Chuck was born on August 27, 1934 in Salmon, ID to Grover and Norma Cox. His youth was profoundly influenced by the challenges of the Depression Era. While he fondly remembered his early childhood spent in Sydney, MT, much of his youth was spent traveling from town to town in search of work. He remembered attending many different schools in one year, and on one move his family boarded a train with all their possessions wrapped in a bedspread.

                Chuck was self-made man. He left school at the age of twelve to help support his family, trying his hand in the spud fields and ranches near Salmon, ID. At age 15, he began work as a miner, splitting his time between the mines in the winter and at the Salmon based ranch of Leonard and Chris Reagle in the summer. While his heart was in ranching, he continued to return to the mines where he found steady work to support his family. At the grand old age of 14, he and good friend Dick Moulten were asked by Frank Lantz to spend the winter down the Salmon River in a small Forest Service camp at what is now called Lantz Bar. He had several interesting stories from that adventure. A favorite, being that it took two days to walk in along the frozen river edge and two hours to float out all while bailing water from the cold, leaky boat.

                In 1949 Chuck moved to Kellogg where he lied about his age to obtain work in the Sunshine Silver Mine. While working there he was crushed between two pieces of mining equipment, traumatizing his torso. This was the only mining injury he experienced in his 35 years in the industry. During his career in the mines he worked in Montana, Washington and Nevada, but spent most of his time at Bunker Hill with his favorite partner, Clark Gable. He always found it amusing that he left and returned to the Bunker Hill Mine at least twelve times, and each time he was welcomed back. One of Chuck’s proudest mining projects was sinking the shaft at the Coeur Mine (1964-1969).

                Chuck was a natural and fearless entrepreneur. He never shied away from risks or new ventures. He bought and remodeled many homes before “flipping” was popular, and played his hand in many other endeavors in order to keep his ‘money working’. In 1982 Chuck and good friend Boyd Johnson fulfilled a lifelong dream of panning for gold in Alaska. To his chagrin, the mosquitoes were bigger and more plentiful than the nuggets. In 1988, Chuck retired from the mines. He held on to his “million dollar” hard hat and lunch pail, which still contains every pay stub he ever earned.

                Chuck was a loyal and loving family man. In 1956, he married Marilee Norris from Bonners Ferry. They had three children: Ron, Pam and Randy. In 1967 Chuck moved his family from Kellogg to a home he built himself on five acres in Dalton ID. He enjoyed raising beef and small farm-life on the family’s new homestead.

                Chuck was a unique, witty person who was loved by many. He loved Gunsmoke, the history-channel, political debates over a cup of coffee, and was receptive to a good conspiracy theory. He had an infectious smile, a great laugh and a kind and generous soul. He often liked to ask new acquaintances for their “birth sign” because “he liked to know who he was dealing with.” He always fought for the underdog and was a loyal and true friend to many. He spent his last few years under the loving care of his daughter, with peaceful views of the horse pasture.                   

                Chuck was preceded in death by both his parents, his brothers, Elza and John Cox, his sister LaDonna and brother-in-law William Firebaugh.

                Chuck is survived by his three children: Ron Cox; Pam (Cox) and Brad Kenmir; and Randy and Paula Cox; his former wife Marilee Norris-Wales; and special friend Sybil Lemich; his sisters: Abbie & Clee Stokes, Salmon ID; LaVinna and Bedford Stroud, Ledore ID; Martha Wolf, Quincy WA; his seven grandchildren: Justin and Camille Cox; Amy and Rob Romey; Tricia and John Wallace; Mick and Jenny Gray; Jessica and Max Peebles;  Heather and Zac Gallegos;  Cody and Katie Cox; and his eleven great-grandchildren: Megan, Molly, Lauren, Sydney, Cameron, Brandon, Rosie, Saul, Cato, Maeve and Cora; and numerous nieces and nephews.

                A celebration of life will be held Sunday, September 18^th.