Charles Bird

Charles McKell Bird

July 19, 1925 ~ February 28, 2018

On February 28, 2018 our dear husband, father, and grandfather, Charles McKell Bird, returned with honor to his eternal reward, there to be met by his parents, Merrill Whiting and Ruby Lucille McKell Bird, two brothers Merrill and Richard, his favorite son-in-law Stephen Southwick, and other family members and friends, who have welcomed him with open, loving arms. He left at home his loving wife Dorothy, his younger brother Ralph, and his favorite sister Marilyn.

Charles, or “Mc” as he became known in high school, was born July 19, 1925 in Mapleton, Utah and moved with his family to Ogden, Utah at the age of two. After graduating from Ogden High School in 1943 he enlisted with the Coast Guard and served his country honorably in the South Pacific during World War II on the USS Hutchinson 45.

On May 7, 1948 he married Dorothy “Dot” Mills in the Logan Temple. Over the next 23 years the family grew to seven boys and a girl, Stephen (Peggy), Cherilyn Southwick, Michael (Candy), Kevin (Debbie), Russell (Wendy), Jonathan (Yvette), Randall (Jen), and Kenneth (Heidi).  For more than 69 years Mc and Dot loved, supported, instructed, and were constant exemplary examples to us as well as their 32 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren, and his four newest great-grandchildren: twins, who will be starting their earthly sojourn in the week to come, plus an additional two expected to arrive this year.

Mc attended Utah State University, earning a degree in Industrial Technology in 1950. He worked various jobs before returning to USU and securing his teaching credentials, where he completed his working career at Doxey Elementary School in Sunset, Utah.  He taught various grades there for 28 years.

After his 1990 retirement, Mc and Dot accepted a mission call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving faithfully in the Canada Winnipeg Mission, then as workers in the Ogden Temple for many years.  A lifelong member of the church, Mc accepted and served willingly in many and all callings extended to him.

His one final request to the family was that his memorial service should not last more than one hour, stating that anything longer would only be made-up lies about him.  In honoring that request, funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the North Ogden Stake Center, 626 East 2600 North.  Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Missionary Fund of the church.