Charles Burdett

Visitation: will be held Tuesday, December 21, 2004 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral Services: will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 11:00 AM at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT

Interment: will follow in the Custer County Cemetery

Charles H. Burdett, known as Charlie or Chuck to his friends and family, left his wheelchair behind on Friday, December 17, 2004, and walked tall and proud into the arms of Christ to have a joyous reunion with his parents and loved one's who had gone on before.

Charlie was born March 23, 1932 in Burns, OR, to Horace and Ruth Burdett. His early childhood was spent inCatlow Valley near Burns. He attended school there and graduated from Burns High School, where he played varsity basketball. His father raised cattle, and Charlie loved helping him and riding his horse through the hills and sagebrush. He attended Eastern Oregon University in La Grande for one year before going to work for Boeing in Seattle. Later, he attended Washington State University in Pullman, graduating in 1961 and beginning his career with the Federal Land Bank as a land appraiser. His first full assignment was in Lewistown, MT in 1962, where he met and married Shirley Apple in June 1964. He worked in the Lewistown office until 1970, then transferred to Miles City, where he later served as Branch Manager until his medical retirement in 1987. His hone'sty, dependability, absolute integrity and uncanny ability to judge character made him very popular among the ranchers and others in the community. Charlie loved sports and was a great supporter of the Custer County Cowboys in Miles City. He could usually be seen on the sidelines at the football games and court-side at the basketball games. He loved to play bridge with the local bridge club, and was a member of Lions Club and Toastmasters.

His wife Shirley preceded him in death in August 1999, shortly after their move to Billings, MT. In 2001 he met Jean Hoiland, moved to Mesquite, NV, where they were married in January 2002. Charlie was a member of Mesquite United Methodist, where he made many new friends and served on the Church Council. Charlie never met a stranger; he genuinely enjoyed visiting with everyone and had an incredible memory for names and family connections. He had a great sense of humor and always had a funny story to tell. He loved to travel and added to his expansive memory by stopping to read every historical marker along the way, usually to the dismay of his passengers! To him, his physical disability was not a handicap, and those who met him quickly understood why. His positive outlook on life and cheerful demeanor made him an inspiration to all.

His survivors include his wife Jean, his daughter, Debra Charles of Harlowton , MT, his son Tim (Carmen) Burdett of Worden, MT, four grandchildren, Larry Charles, Brandon Sheets, Beau Burdett, and Danielle Burdett, three step-children and six step-grandchildren, a sister Lora (Kjell) Holmes, San Diego, CA, nephew Eric Holmes and niece Julie (Charlie) Capps, three great-nephews, and a special cousin, Sammy Smith, Grand Junction, CO.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 21, 2004 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 11:00 AM at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. A memorial service is also being planned in Mesquite, NV to be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Mesquite United Methodist, in care of Jean Burdett, 1254 Augusta Hills Street, Mesquite, NV 89027 or to a favorite charity.