Charlotte Elene (Briggs) Chevrier passed away May 9, 2020, in Hoquiam, Washington of age-related causes. She was born March 4, 1932, in Springfield, Massachusetts, the last of four children to James Alfred Briggs and Doris (Derby) Briggs. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Maurice Chevrier, and her son, Harold Martin Chevrier, her siblings and parents. She is survived by her cousin, Marlene (Derby) Salamone of Naples, Florida, her son, Paul Russell Chevrier (Teresa) of Loma Linda, California, four grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Shortly after Charlotte was born, her parents and maternal grandparents, John A. L. and Martha (Johnson) Derby bought together a two-story house in West Harford, Connecticut. Charlotte lived in that house until she went away to college. She followed her sister, Marilyn, and brothers, Jim, and John, through all the same schools — Morley School, across the street from their house on Bretton Road and Hall High from which she graduated in 1950. She followed them to the same college, Pacific Union College, Angwin, California from which they all graduated, except her sister, Marilyn, who died of a staph infection while she was in nursing school at the age of eighteen.
Some of Charlotte’s favorite childhood memories took place during the Depression in the 1930s when the family would drive from West Hartford, Connecticut to Loretta, WI where they spent the summer months living in the deep woods in a cabin that was about 10 miles from the closest paved highway on the Chippewa River that ran south of Chippewa Falls. Their vacation would be very primitive, living on the fish they caught and all the blueberries they could gather before the bears got them. At the age of four she (with her mother’s help) landed an 18” wall-eyed pike using a fishing pole that was a twig with a worm-baited hook at the end of string — a great supper for the family provided by a very proud little girl!
Charlotte met her husband, Harold Maurice Chevrier, while attending Pacific Union College in Angwin, California. They were married on August 23, 1953, in Carmel, California the summer before her senior year. Charlotte graduated in 1954 and got a job teaching in southern California while Harold continued his college education. Their first son, Harold “Martin” Chevrier, was born, Oct. 1, 1956 in Napa, California. They moved to Michigan in 1957 where their second son, Paul “Russell” Chevrier was born September 2, 1958. After Russell was born, the family spent a short time in Jefferson, Texas then returned to California.
In 1965, Charlotte and Harold opened a hobby and craft shop in Stockton, California which they ran for ten years in addition to a coin and stamp business and wholesale craft business. Selling both businesses in 1975 they relocated to Glendale, California where Harold taught school, again, and Charlotte decided that since she didn’t want to return to the classroom after a ten-year absence she would go back to school and get a degree in nursing. For two years, she commuted from Santa Monica, California to Loma Linda University School of Nursing in Riverside, California where she received her R.N. in 1978. She worked at Santa Monica Hospital, Glendale Adventist Hospital, and Portland Adventist Hospital. Besides traveling to live in many states — Michigan, Texas, California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and Washington, Charlotte enjoyed a couple of trips to the Middle East with her family. Unfortunately, she was never able to fulfill her life’s dream of a trip to Hawaii.
The list of Charlotte’s hobbies, interests and personal accomplishments is extensive…loving wife and mother, teacher, nurse, business woman, realtor, art gallery owner, seller of fine art, gifts and fudge…family story teller and careful keeper of her family’s history and spiritual heritage…prolific writer of her own memoirs and other family biographies…though she never watched TV, she kept up with current events and world news through her reading and as she listened to her trusty radio that provided constant background “music” for her later, alone years…a faithful servant of the Lord, prayer warrior and avid Bible scholar…Charlotte was always ready to share herself, her faith and her opinion!
Dearly loved and deeply appreciated by all who knew her, our thoughts echo these words shared by her grandson, Jeffrey Chevrier, upon hearing of her passing…” She was a sweet soul and a loving person. Grandma loved the Lord…’Only a heart as dear as yours would give so unselfishly. The many things you’ve done, all the times you were there. Help me know deep down inside how much you really care. Even though I might not say I appreciate you as much as I should have. Richly blessed is how I feel having a grandmother like you.’ –Revelation 21:4”
“Mom, Grandma, Aunt Charlotte, Dear Friend, we’ll miss you!” —You lived well and taught us well. You “…fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith!”—Enjoy that crown you so richly deserve! (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
Written by Kathleen (Briggs) Rodgers, Niece
A graveside service of inurnment will be held later in the Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 5th Street in Hoquiam, Washington.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line guest register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
