Charles R. Every

Charlie’s smile brightened every room he walked into, and those who knew him expected to hear his laugh. He fought a long and hard battle against mantle cell lymphoma and won three weeks before the tragic accident that took him from us. We lost a beloved husband, father, grandpa, son, and friend on May 3, 2023.

Charlie was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, on June 26, 1951, to Charles Ross and Virginia Faye Every. Charlie moved to Redmond in 1962. From a young age, rodeo was built into his DNA, working with his father at his stock contracting company; he was a multisport athlete in high school participating in football, track, and bull riding; he was also president of the student body of Redmond High School and FFA. He attended college at Eastern Oregon University, where he again participated with the rodeo team. He was always proud of the horses he rode, one of which was an AQHA champion. After college, he continued working for his father’s stock contracting company where he met his wife of 48 years, Wendie, at the Lakeview Roundup. They were married in Sunriver in 1975. She encouraged him to pursue his passion for trucking and he bought his first truck in 1977. Their first son, Jeff, was born in 1978, and their second son, Cody, followed in 1984. He and Wendie raised their sons in Redmond and both boys followed in their father’s footsteps and established their own trucking businesses.

Charlie enjoyed time with his boys, enjoyed his business, and most of all his grandchildren. He loved to rope, laugh, have a good time, and treasured his many friendships. The most important thing to him was his family and friends. This downhome boy was always up for new adventures and loved taking Wendie to upscale locations like Telluride, Santa Fe, and San Antonio.

He was an active member and served on the board of the Oregon Trucking Association. His company was the largest hauler of agricultural products east of the Cascades and was recognized for its safety record as a trusted carrier.

He is survived by his wife Wendie, his sons, Jeff (Kristy), Cody (Kasey), and his grandchildren Hadley, Triften, Blakely, and his mom Faye. He was preceded in death by his father Ross.

Charlie wore many hats throughout his life. He was his dad’s right-hand man (ring man) at the stockyard. He was also a road construction foreman, heavy equipment operator, truck driver, stock contractor, wildland firefighter, bullfighter, bull rider, team roper, and cowboy. He could run any piece of equipment with great precision.