Charles D. Dewey April 16, 1942 – July 14, 2016

On July 14, 2016, Charles Douglas Dewey of Bellaire, Michigan, met his loving Father & Maker at heaven’s gate. Through the acceptance of Christ’s salvation, Charlie is reunited with his family preceding him in death; parent’s Lewis & Pearl Dewey, brother William Dewey, twin daughters Brenda & baby Dewey, and beloved dog Breanna.

He leaves his loving memories to be cherished by his sons Doug (Michelle) Dewey of Spring Lake, Dean (Brandie) Dewey of Cartersville, GA, sisters Connie Dewey of Bellaire, Peggy Dewey of Lanore, NC, Dorothy (Denny) Archer of East Jordan, 8 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Gail Dewey and former spouse Jacquelline Somerville.

Charlie proudly served the U.S. Army in the 54th engineering battalion. He was stationed in Germany for 3 years. Most of his time there was spent as a chauffeur to a General. Charlie received a good conduct medal and recognition as a rifle expert.

Upon returning to Michigan, he continued his construction trade in Grand Rapids and then moved back to Bellaire. Charlie’s fingerprints are on many of the beautiful homes in the area from Charlevoix to Elk Rapids. His craftsmanship and attention to detail were of the highest quality. Raising his children in the same manner, his sons continue the precision in their work as they were taught.

Charlie had a passion for sports and was a dedicated Bellaire Eagle fan. He served on the Bellaire Football Chain Gang for 30 years. You could also find him at the Bellaire basketball games. During baseball season, Charlie rarely missed a Detroit Tiger game.

Charlie loved farming. For 20 years, he served as a county and community committee member of the USDA-ASCS/FSA Farm Service Agency. Charlie was at rest sitting in his tractor. He even got the fields in this year. Thanks to his cherished friends, the fields are thriving as a tribute to the man who loved his land.

So God Made A Farmer Paul Harvey And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer. God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer. "I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer. God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer. God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer. God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church. "Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

Visitation service will be held Sunday July 17, from 4-7pm at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Funeral services will be Monday July 18, at 11am at St. Luke Catholic Church in Bellaire with burial to be celebrated at Eldred Cemetery located on Shanty Creek Road.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bellaire Public Schools c/o Basketball & Football programs, 204 W. Forest Home Ave, Bellaire, MI 49615.