Charles South

Charles William (Sam) South, 56, formerly of Elmore County, died June 12, 2008, at his home in Chicago, Ill.

A memorial service was held Monday, June 23, at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Arrangements were by Summers Funeral Home, Boise Chapel.

He was born April 16, 1952, in McCall, Idaho, to George and Barbara South. He spent his early years taking advantage of all the available recreation and became an expert swimmer, skier, and water skier, his family noted.

The family moved to Glenns Ferry in 1963. In his junior and high school years Sam was an avid golfer, point guard, and catcher. In summers he worked and trained horses and hoped to be a jockey, however he got too big.

At the end of Sam's junior year, the family moved to Mountain Home where he graduated in 1970. He then attended the University of Idaho, pledged Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and later graduated in December 1974 with a degree in accounting.

During a winter ski trip to McCall, Sam connected with Vickrie Cutler and they were married in January 1975.

Sam fulfilled his Army ROTC commitment at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.; then he and Vickrie settled in Mountain Home.

He worked for McMurtrey Watt, and Vickrie sold houses for Swearingen Real Estate.

In the early '80s they spread their wings to experience life in Chicago. Sam worked for Arthur Anderson while Vickrie worked for Goldman Sachs. After tax season, Sam golfed wherever and whenever he could in Chicago, Arizona, or California. The highlights of his summers were the months of June when he and Vickrie treated his nieces and nephews with graduation presents of shopping sprees, Cub's games, and fine dining.

In recent years Sam and Vickrie retired to Sun Valley, where he fell in love with fly fishing, spending many happy hours with his nephew, Patrick, and Vickrie's brother, Eric.

"Sam's untimely death devastates his family, as we know others are as deeply affected," his family said. Wherever he went and whatever he did, Sam left behind legions of friends who loved him as much as we do. We all will focus on the good times when he was a daredevil, when he was willing to help any of his friends or family who needed it, the barrage of naughty emails he used to send, and his signature, 'It's a beautiful thing!' "

He is survived by: his mother, Barbara; his sisters, Susan Evans and Tish Starkey; his brother, Tom South, and several nieces and nephews and their children.

Sam is preceded in death by his father, George.