One of the world’s most beautiful hearts stopped beating on this Earth on June 1, 2025. Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt left this Earth to join her loving husband, Don, in Heaven. She passed of natural causes and was surrounded by her loving family at her family home.

Charlotte Eileen Manson McKelvey was born on May 21, 1936, to William Quinn and Violet Eileen Harris Manson. Charlotte was the oldest child, followed by Jim, Kay, and Gary. They lived in Leslie during her early years. When Charlotte was six, she moved to Mackay and stayed with her Uncle Clee and Aunt Chrissy Manson during the week so she could attend Mackay Elementary. Her mother wanted her to attend a “bigger and better” school rather than Leslie or Darlington. The next year, the family moved to Mackay.

Charlotte was exceptionally intelligent and skipped the third grade. She graduated from Mackay High School with the Class of 1953. During high school, she helped her parents by working in their confectionery, an eatery that was said to have the best hamburgers in the Valley. After graduation, she went to work at the JC Penney store—one of the first JC Penney stores to open in the United States.

During her sophomore year of high school, she fell in love with her tall, handsome cowboy, Don McKelvey. Don and Charlotte traveled to Elko, Nevada, on her 18th birthday, May 21, 1954, to get married. To this union, four children were born: Karen Eileen, Mary Colleen (Kandy), James Donald (Jim), and John Quinn (Jack).

There is a saying that goes, “The greatest gift you can give your children is to love and respect your spouse.” Don and Charlotte gave this gift to their children for a lifetime. They operated the Chilly Post Office and then moved to the family ranch at Chilly (the Sally Johnson ranch at this time). After selling the ranch in 1963, they moved to Mackay where they purchased their family home on Beverland Lane (College Street). Many cherished friendships were made by the family while living there.

In 1965, Don and Charlotte partnered with their friends, Herb and Sharon Whitworth, and purchased Perk’s Bar. In 1972, Don was hired by San Felipe Ranch as the cattle foreman and they moved back to Chilly. Charlotte spent many days going to work on the ranch with Don. She cooked often for the hired men, and some still talk about her delicious meals. Many treasured friendships were made during this time as well.

After retirement in 1992, they moved back to their family home on Beverland Lane. Charlotte (Grandma Char) loved deeply and unconditionally. Her love for each family member was pure and genuine. Her love for each grandchild was special, and everyone always felt her love. No one ever questioned it.

Children and grandchildren learned her values and morals through her example. She never judged anyone and always found the good in people. When her grandchildren were small and occasionally naughty, Grandma Char would always say, “They must be tired or hungry,” even when their parents insisted they were just being naughty.

She was humble and generous, kind and nurturing. She cared deeply for the less privileged, often anonymously paying for Mackay School students’ sports fees. She loved holidays, especially Christmas—decorating, baking, and purchasing gifts for every family member, over eighty members in all. In 1965, Charlotte started a family tradition of delivering cookies and singing Christmas carols to community members. This tradition has continued every Christmas since.

Charlotte always remembered everyone’s birthdays. She was an amazing cook—cooking was one of her love languages. She always prepared three square meals a day, and the family gathered around the kitchen table for every meal. There were always fresh-baked cookies available. Many cherished conversations, light-hearted laughter, and deep discussions took place around that kitchen table, often with coffee and talk of Mackay Miner sports.

Charlotte loved living in the Big Lost River Valley and never wanted to live anywhere else. She loved the mountains, the scenery, the wildlife, and was an avid bird watcher. She loved the people and the community. Her ancestors were among the first settlers in the Lost River Valley, arriving in 1884. Her great-grandchildren who live there now are seventh-generation residents. She was proud of the history her family shared in the Valley and was a member of the Historical Society.

Charlotte and Don spent many hours working at the museum and donated many items, including the Houston Jailhouse. She wrote and published three cookbooks, donating the proceeds to the Historical Society. She and Don also worked on improvements to Heritage Park.

She was an avid Mackay Miner fan, following and cheering for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and every other child playing for the team. She was a beautiful seamstress—sewing school clothes, cheerleading outfits, drill team uniforms, and later clothes for her grandchildren.

In the 1980s, Charlotte and her two daughters opened Sis’s Country Cloth and Crafts. They also created the slogan “Mackay Top of Idaho,” printing it on T-shirts and other items.

Charlotte loved to read and write. She penned many stories and wrote articles for the Post Register and Neighbor Magazine. She loved taking family photos with her camera, leaving behind a treasured collection of memories. She bowled weekly with the Gutter Gussies in Arco and, surprisingly to many, was also a pool shark.

Charlotte had her signature loves: the color red, red lipstick, red fingernail polish, Jergens lotion, and Emeraude perfume. She was always grateful for her blessings. She even loved doing laundry. Having been afraid of the dark as a child due to using an outhouse, she was especially thankful for modern conveniences.

She had a fun personality and was known to get the giggles with her children in precarious situations, to the dismay of her husband. She was the family rock—her opinion and wisdom were valued by all. She was the family matriarch, the glue that held everyone together. The doors to McKelvey Central were always open, welcoming loved ones in both good times and hard times.

Her family legacy will live on in the beauty and strength of each generation. She will be her family’s biggest fan for eternity. She will always be a voice in our ears and a beat in our hearts.

Charlotte is survived by her children: Karen McKelvey Hames, Kandy (Jim) Krosch, Jim (Donna) McKelvey, and Jack McKelvey; eighteen grandchildren and their partners; fifty-three great-grandchildren; her sister Kay Brown; her brother Gary (Sandy) Manson; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Don; her parents; her in-laws John and Ardella McKelvey; her brother Jim Manson; her daughter-in-law Marty McKelvey; and her brother-in-law Don Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to Mackay EMTs or to the Marty McKelvey Memorial Walk for Education via Venmo @Jack-McKelvey-4.

The family would like to express our love and profound gratitude to Charlotte’s daughter, Karen, who moved in with Charlotte after Don’s passing. Special thanks also to Mackay EMTs (especially Randy Ivie) and Brio Home Health and Hospice for their compassionate care.

Charlotte (Grandma Char), you set a solid foundation for your family, and your legacy will continue through generations because of the love you shared so freely. Your family is at peace, knowing you were greeted in Heaven by your tall, handsome cowboy.

Services will be held on June 6, 2025, at the Mackay High School Auditorium at 11:00 A.M. A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mt. McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay under the direction of the Anderson Family Funeral Home.