Charles West Mcpherson, Jr.

italicOur father, Charles West McPherson Jr., passed away on December 27, 2013. Although we will miss him, we are grateful for all of the years we had with him, and full the life he lived. italicHe was born on July 4, 1927 to Charles West and Ethel Lenora (Herrin) McPherson in Butte, Montana where he grew up with his younger brothers, Robert and Donald. He excelled in school and his best memories were of fishing, particularly on the Jefferson River when visiting his aunt and uncles ranch near Silver Star, Montana. After graduation from high school, our dad entered the Army in December 1945 and spent time as a surgical technician in the medical corps at Fort Lewis, Washington. He attended Montana School of Mines and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He received a job offer in Los Angeles and moved to southern California, where he met and married Martha Louise Goodale, originally from West Boylston, Mass., in November 1955. italicIn the years shortly after his marriage, he went to work for North American Aviation (later Rockwell) where he worked as a quality control engineer for nearly 30 years, his son Glenn and daughter Carol were born, and he purchased a new home in Buena Park, California where he and Martha settled. He focused the next 20 years on his family - raising, supporting, and very involved in the lives and activities of his children, planning fabulous family vacations and spending many weekends with his brothers and their families. Charles was a quiet man known for his lifelong learning, high integrity, friendly smile, and impeccable yard. italic After retirement and the birth of three granddaughters, Brooke, Emily and Caitlin, Charles and Martha moved to Washington to be close grandparents, finally settling in Edmonds. Again family took priority, and he spent countless hours at school events, concerts, sor matches, softball and basketball games, and swim meets supporting his grandkids. We are so pleased he lived to see the birth of his great-granddaughter, Addyson, and to spend one more Christmas with family. His wife Martha preceded him in death in 2007, but not before they were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.p