Charles Arthur Purdy, 85

Charles Arthur Purdy, 85, died on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at Mountain View Manor in Eureka.

He was born on March 4, 1926, to Comet M. and Allis E. (Winkley) in Eureka. He attended schools in Eureka until age 16, when he went to work in the woods on his father's ranch.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 3, 1944, taking his basic training in Farragut, Idaho. He served aboard the destroyer USS Cowell in the Asiatic Pacific Area for the next 23 months. He was honorably discharged on May 7, 1946.

He was united in marriage on June 8, 1946, to Vivian Frost. They became parents to five children. He continued to work in the timber industry, acquiring his first saw mill in 1952.  In 1965 when the Forest Service was phasing out saw mills in the woods, he became a logging contractor until his retirement in 1990.

His love of fishing and hunting was nearly equal to love of family and friends. He enjoyed birdwatching and wildlife.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Keith; brothers, Larry, Robert and Duane; a sister, Sally Ripley; a son-in-law, Alan Truman; and a daughter-in-law Gloria Sue Purdy.

Survivors include his wife, Vivian Purdy, of Eureka; son, Gary; daughters, Janet and husband Ben, Cheryl and husband Darrell, and Debbie Truman; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

 Services were held Aug. 13 at the Baptist Church in Eureka.