Idaho State Journal, 01/18/04

MONTPELIER - Charles Hubert Hymas, age 76, eldest son of Hubert and Margaret Hymas, passed away quietly, while sleeping in his favorite chair at home Jan. 15, 2004. He suffered all his life from childhood asthma.

The Presbyterian Church requested him to light the old wood stoves for their church at age nine. Later on in his young life he began working with his father in the Hymas Construction Co., south of city limits of Montpelier, Idaho. He and his father supplied the gravel and cement from their gravel pit to help build the foundations for the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and the once Bear Lake High School on Washington Street.

As a young boy, his life was spared from death, two specific times: one was a severe head injury and a near drowning, followed by a miraculous rescue from the deep waters of Bear Lake.

Chuck later joined the United States Navy at age 17. He served while in San Diego, Calif. On coming back home, he resumed working with his father. He later began working for Morris-Knudson Construction Co. building roads, dams and bridges, mainly in Utah and Nevada.

Chuck also worked on the present Montpelier Canyon landfill, where he was injured by a 500 lb. chunk of falling petrified phosphate rock.

From Chuck's first marriage with Stella Clay was born three children: Cherrilyn, Randy and Cindy. Years later that marriage ended by divorce.

His second marriage was to Mona, who already had three children at the time, named Debra, Steven and Halla. Together they had three children: Sherry, Kathy and Eric. This marriage was ended by divorce.

Over 30 years ago while living in Green River, Utah, a Baptist preacher knocked on Chuck's door, offering him a four-week Bible study in his home. It resulted in Chuck praying to receive the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and life. He became a brand-new man. Chuck enjoyed many activities, such as hunting, fishing, getting wood and gardening. The one thing Chuck loved the most was his prayer life, praying for the needs of others, so the best place you could be was on his prayer list, consisting of many pages.

He was employed for many years by the Bear Lake County School District No. 33. He worked as a janitor at both the old high school on Washington Street and at A.J. Winter Grade School on Clay Street.

Due to Chuck's persistent praying for 15 years for God to send him a Christian wife, guess what? She arrived from South Dakota, along with her three youngest sons, Patrick, Daniel and Matthew. It had also been her prayer for a godly husband. Without even one date, Chuck proposed to this young woman from South Dakota and she readily accepted, knowing he was the man God had chosen for her. Together they raised her three youngest sons, and he also was dad and friend to her older three children, who were already on their own. George, and Michael in turn grew to love and respect the man who loved their mother. This devoted couple were never apart and lived for one another and for their Lord, Jesus. When you read Psalm 23 where David says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...," remember, it's only a shadow!

Services will be Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Matthews Mortuary in Montpelier, Idaho. Burial will be in the Montpelier Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Matthews Mortuary.