Charles William Norris was born November 8th, 1927 to Glendon and Gladys Norris in Geneva, Nebraska where his family ran a grocery store. When he was 8, Charlie and his parents, along with his 3 siblings, were living in Beatrice, Nebraska. They lived in a two-story farm house next to a big barn that housed cows, chickens, homing pigeons, and rabbits which encompassed one city block. On Sundays, they would harvest one of his mother’s chickens for company coming over. Charlie’s first job was delivering newspapers. In the summer, as a young entrepreneur, he would sell and deliver ice cream. He made enough money to buy a bicycle, which he then used to deliver his papers. He moved on to work at a wooden box factory that supplied the government with boxes for ammunition. Two weeks before school started, he cut off the tip of his finger at work. He was able to buy a 1932 Ford 5-window Coupe with the $300 settlement money he received from his accident. His new car helped him swoon his future wife, Mary Ruth. Meeting on a blind date at the Lincoln Theater, the two quickly grew fond of each other. Charlie took Mary Ruth on his mail route often. When he was 17, Charlie joined the US Navy for 3 years. The Navy took him many places, including Japan, Australia, and Guam, where he saw thousands of empty wooden boxes that he had helped make back home. In Guam, after he missed boarding his ship, he spent 3 weeks wind surfing on the water with their “fart sacks” – their mattress covers filled with air – while waiting for the Navy ship to return. When Charlie returned home, he and Mary Ruth were married August 28th, 1949 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska for 3 years. Charlie and Mary Ruth had 3 children. Bill was born in 1952 in Lincoln Nebraska. In 1954, their family followed Charlie’s parents to Colorado, where their daughter Susan was born in 1955, and their daughter Beverly was born in 1958. Charlie worked at Gates Rubber Company, and then went into business with his father in coin-operated laundromats. After divorcing in 1966, Charlie remarried for a short time. He moved to Oak Creek in 1969 and started a laundromat business. After the building burned down, he rebuilt it, and the Wash House still stands today on Main Street Oak Creek. On August 28th, 1981, exactly 32 years after their first wedding, Charlie and Mary Ruth remarried in a double ceremony with their daughter Susan and her first husband. Charlie was known for his construction work, running the laundromat, and appliance repair. He and Mary Ruth and their dogs enjoyed traveling in their motor-home to places including Arizona, Oregon, California, Texas, and even a trip to Florida. In the mid 90’s, Charlie and his son Bill built the Oak Creek Car Wash and ran it for many years. Charlie and Mary Ruth enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren, and caretaking the Oak Creek Cemetery. Mary Ruth passed away July 30, 2013. Charlie lived with his daughter, Susan, for 4 years before he passed away at Yampa Valley Medical Center after a short illness. Charlie is survived by his brother, Bob Norris of Albuquerque New Mexico, and sisters Arlene (Rex) Mehuron of Florence, Oregon, and Beverly Shephard of Arvada, Colorado; son Bill Norris of Oak Creek, daughter Susan (Dean) Rossi of Phippsburg, and daughter Beverly Halcomb of Lubbock, Texas; grandchildren Becca (Gary) Richardson of Indianapolis, Indiana, Marcie Norris of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Kimberly (Michael) Davis of Yampa, Colorado, Michael Rossi of Yampa, Colorado; Dana (Rob) Ewing of Lubbock, Texas, Danielle (Paul) Perriman of Madison, South Dakota, Charlie Halcomb of Lubbock, Texas, and Steven Halcomb of Lubbock, Texas. Great Grandchildren Stephen and Elijah Richardson, Everett Tracy-Norris, Kacie and Cooper Davis, Zachary and Caleb McAnnally , and Max Dannenbring. Charlie was well known and well-loved in the Yampa Valley and Routt County. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 8, 2017 at The Oak Creek Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Northwest Colorado Health and Hospice in care of Grant Mortuary.