Chuck Finlayson

Charles Alexander (Chuck) Finlayson, 72, died at Elmore Medical Center following an extended illness on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services were held at Grace Lutheran Church on Friday, Jan. 4,. Interment was at Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

He was born in Shoshone, Idaho, to Frank and Louisa Finlayson, on June 6, 1935. Raised in Shoshone, he graduated from Shoshone High School.

Chuck served in the U. S. Air Force and was honorably discharged.

In 1959, he married Alice Craig. They had four children and resided in Glenns Ferry. They were later divorced.

He worked for various farmers and trucking firms. He took an electronics course and for a short time worked for an electrical contractor. He enjoyed working on small appliances.

Chuck worked for the Idaho State Highway Department for 16 years. He spent many long hours plowing snow on the freeway and on the road to Fairfield. During the rest of the year he drove trucks and did highway maintenance. He worked on the Special Crew for several summers on jobs throughout southwestern Idaho. He retired in 1990 due to a job-related disability.

In 1977 Chuck met the love of his life, Rosalie Burgemeister, at a square dance in McCall. They were married April 2, 1978 in American Falls. They square danced in most of the western states, including Hawaii, and attended three National Square Dance Conventions.

Chuck was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church in Mountain Home. "Throughout the last 17 years of his life, as he struggled with his disability, he was a model of courage and patience to all who knew him," his family said.

Chuck is survived by: his wife, Rosalie; his four children, Lucille (Blaine) Allen of Melba; Cheri Arellano of Portland, Ore.; Craig (Cindy) Finlayson of Meridian; and Mark (Ada) Finlayson of Boise; his brother, Frank (Arleen) Finlayson of Kuna; his sister, Betty Clayton of Shoshone; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a great grandson.

Memorials can be made to a charity of choice.