Charles Cordis Jr.
RONAN — Charles William “Charlie” Cordis Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Dec. 17, 2019.
He was born on Aug. 3, 1947, the youngest of seven children, to Charles and Grace Cordis of St. Ignatius. He lived on the family farm until they moved to Arlee when he was a freshman. He graduated from Arlee High School in 1966 and joined the Army shortly thereafter. After three years in the Army he attended Missoula Vo-Tech and got his degree in diesel mechanics. He worked at Western Diesel Power in Missoula for a time while he lived in East Missoula. There he met his “beautiful sweetheart,” Roxey Stokes. They were married on July 5, 1974, and had 45 years together. He then worked at Plum Creek Sawmill in Pablo until an accident cut his career short in December of 1994. He was a worker. If he was not at the mill, he was helping his brother build a shop or taking care of his parents, cutting firewood, remodeling his home; he was always going. He did enjoy some fun too, fishing with his mom or his brother and sister, hunting with many of his family and friends and camping all over the state. He loved his kids and taught all three of them how to drive a stick, fish, shoot a rifle and put in a long day’s work without complaint.
The loves of his life were his grandkids, his great-granddaughter and his nieces and nephews that were lucky enough to have their Uncle Charlie close by. He loved the time he spent with them after his retirement.
He also loved the Grizzlies and had season tickets for the football games. He loved boating on Flathead Lake and a good game of crib, watching westerns and listening to country western music, and of course his favorite was George Jones.
Charlie was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and after his accident he had a lot of time to read, so he read his bible from cover to cover. He went back to the Kingdom Hall and made many new friends and “family” there.
He was preceded in death by his Mom and Dad and second mom, Lois Lynch; his father- and mother-in-law, Roy and Nellie Stokes; his granddaughter, Hannah; his sister, Carol; and brothers, Leon and Ray; his sisters-in-law, Jean and Theresa; and brothers-in-law, Bob, Joe, Russ, Don, Ray, Boyd, Larry and Jerry.
He is survived by his wife, Roxey; his daughters, Jeannie (Stacy) Robinson, Kristie (Russ) Bassett; his son, Bill (Katie) Cordis; his grandchildren: James Hoskinson; Robert Robinson; Hudson, Kelcie, Boyce, Gracie and Bentlie Bassett, Tabitha, Autumn, Serious and Violett; and his great-granddaughter, Elliana Hoskinson; his sisters, Alvera, Delores and Dorothy (Ben); his sisters-in-law, Jolene, Ruth, Faye, and Leathy (Cherokee); and his brothers-in-law, Lloyd (Pearl), Joe (Wanda), Dick (Rita), Jerry, and Leo (Francis); and many nieces and nephews; and all of you that called him “dad.” He loved you too.
Charlie had a big heart and strong hands and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Our world will not be the same without him.
Services have been held.
