Charlotte Eileen McKelvey

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 in 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. Charlotte graduated from Mackay High School with the Class of 1953. During high school she helped her parents by working in their Confectionary, 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.

Don and Charlotte 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 on Beverland Lane. 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 spent many days cooking for the hired men and some still talk about her delicious meals. Many treasured friendships were made during this time also. 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 her love for them. 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 they would occasionally be naughty and Grandma Char would always say, “They must be tired or hungry”, and their parents would tell Grandma Char, “No, Mom, they are just being naughty.”

She was humble and generous. She was kind and nurturing. She was caring and always cared for the less privileged, many times paying for Mackay School students’ sports fees anonymously. She loved holidays and especially Christmas. She loved to decorate and bake for Christmas. She purchased gifts for every family member, over eighty members. In 1965 Charlotte started a family tradition with her children delivering cookies and singing Christmas carols to community members. This tradition has continued every Christmas since its inception. Charlotte always remembered everyone’s birthdays. She was an amazing cook, and cooking was one of her love languages toward her family. She always cooked three square meals a day and the family always sat around the kitchen table for meals. There were always fresh baked cookies available. The family had many shared conversations while sitting around the kitchen table and drinking coffee. Many hours were shared in light-hearted laughter, deep conversations or discussing Mackay Miner sports while sitting around the table.

Charlotte loved living in the Big Lost River Valley and never wanted to live anywhere else. She loved the mountains, scenery, wildlife and was an avid bird watcher. She loved the people and the community. Her ancestors were some of the very first settlers in the Lost River Valley settling in 1884. Her great-grandchildren that live in the Lost River Valley are seventh generation family members. She was always proud of the history she shared in the Valley. She was a proud member of the Historical Society. Her and Don spent many hours working at the museum, donated many items to the museum including the Houston Jailhouse. Charlotte wrote and published three cookbooks and donated the proceeds to the Historical Society. Charlotte and Don spent many hours helping with improvements to the Heritage Park. She was an avid Mackay Miner fan, following and cheering for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and every other child playing for the Mackay Miners.

She was a beautiful seamstress, sewing school clothes, cheerleading outfits, drill team uniforms for her children and then clothes for her grandchildren when they were small. Charlotte and her two daughters went into business together in the eighties and opened Sis’s Country Cloth and Crafts. During this time the slogan,”Mackay Top of Idaho”, was created by the trio and printed on T-shirts and other items. Charlotte loved to read and write. She wrote many stories and wrote articles for the Post Register and the Neighbor Magazine. She loved to take pictures of the family with her camera and fortunately the family has treasured memories from her photos. She was a member of the Gutter Gussies bowling league and traveled to Arco every Wednesday evening. She was a “pool shark” much to the surprise of her opponents.

She was beautiful on the inside and outside. She had her signature loves; the color red, red lipstick, red fingernail polish, Jergens lotion and Emeraude perfume. Charlotte was always grateful for her many blessings in her life. She loved doing her laundry. She was afraid of the dark from having to go outside to the outhouse as a child, so she was very grateful for the modern conveniences. She had a fun personality and, at times, would get the giggles with her children, while in precarious situations, to the dismay of her husband. She was the family rock and family members valued her opinion and wisdom. She was the family matriarch and the glue that has kept her family close. The doors to McKelvey Central were always open with loving arms, in 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 ear 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, Sister Kay Brown, 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, her bother-in-law Don Brown, and her great granddaughter Addison Kathelene Reynolds. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made in her name to Mackay EMT’s or to the Marty McKelvey Memorial Walk for Education through 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 the death of Don. The family would like to thank the Mackay EMT’s (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 your love you shared so freely. Your family is at peace because we know you were greeted in Heaven by your tall handsome cowboy.

Services will be held on June 6, 2025, at 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 be at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay under the direction of the Anderson Family Funeral Home.