The News-Examiner, 08/12/13
On July 26, 2013 Chuck Faulkner passed away in his sleep from natural causes. Born as Charles Houston Faulkner III (CHF III) to Chick Faulkner ( CHF Jr) and Vilate Reese Faulkner in Soda Springs on June 17, 1953. Eldest of four brothers in a five-year span with a baby sister born 15 years later.
Known as Chuck or Charlie, he was raised in Nevada and Utah until his family settled on the west side of Bear Lake Valley. Together the family ran Chick’s Conoco in Paris and a small farm in Bloomington.
He was proud to be from the west side and had a great country boy childhood. He was taught by his parents to work hard and take pride in his accomplishments. He loved baseball but was a cowboy at heart. He loved to share memories from his youth of running around with his brothers and friends and getting into small town mischief. He enjoyed riding his horse, Chief, hunting, fishing and trapping as a teen. He participated in 4-H and rodeo, but when his well cared for sheep died the morning of the auction, he claimed sheep were untrustworthy animals and vowed to stick to horses in the future.
Chuck always claimed he was born a century later than he should have been and it was the truth. He had four men in his life whom he greatly admired and tried to emulate. He considered these four men his heroes, Chick Faulkner, Harold Reese, Truel Passey and Hulme Dunford. He thought the world of these men and claimed they were the last real cowboys he knew.
He graduated from BLHS in Montpelier and Chabot Jr. college in California. He then worked in welding and construction throughout the western U.S. He was a skilled craftsman, aviator, cowboy, outdoorsman and musician.
He married Margean Passey (divorced) and together they shared four children, Darcy, Cody, Casey, and Chet Faulkner. He later married Darlene Cooper (divorced) and had his youngest child Jennie Louise Faulkner.
Chuck was a member of the LDS church and attended as his health allowed. He quietly served when called upon. One of his proudest moments was attending the Oakland California Temple to receive his endowments. He chose this temple because his father was the superintendent who oversaw the building of the Oakland Temple.
He loved his children and grandchildren and was very proud of each of them and their accomplishments. He is survived by all of his siblings, Craig (Kim) Faulkner, Curtis (Linda) Faulkner, Calvin Jon (Sue) Faulkner and Kelli (Leroy) Rocha. He is also survived by all his children Darcy (Shaun) Hemmert, Cody (Todd) Ochsenbein, Casey (Alan) Hemmert, Chet (Mindi) Faulkner and Jennie Faulkner.
He leaves behind 21 grandchildren. He will also greatly miss his reading companion and neighbor, Gwen Passey. She was a dear friend and their time together helped keep the loneliness at bay.
Funeral services will be Aug. 24 in Paris.