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Charley Files Obituary
Charley FILES 1938 ~ 2011 Mr. Charles Wilbur Files of Richmond Beach died In Maui, Hawaii while on a recent vacation, from complications of Pneumonia. A wide network of friends and family will miss the North Seattle businessman and local sports enthusiast. Charley, well known locally for many years in the restaurant and bar industry; most currently active in a couple of "dive bars" as owner of The Sloop Tavern in Ballard and a partner in Leny's Place in Tangletown (Greenlake/Wallingford.) Since the early 60's, Mr. Files, known by "Charley" to his employees, customers and vendors, was involved professionally in over 20 businesses and has been a mentor to 100s! More than an avid sports fan and sponsor to the local teams, Files participated in softball leagues during 5 decades and traveled the northwest states as a basketball referee. He was inducted into the Halls of Fame for the Northwest Women's Collegiate Basketball Assoc. and the Pacific Northwest Basketball Officials Assoc. A Mariners season ticket holder since 1978, he supported the Aqua Sox and Rainiers as well. Likely to be seen at Seahawk, Husky and Seattle High school sporting events, he became a regular visitor to Arizona to Seattle Mariner spring training. Each Year a Fishing Derby and ballgame bus trips were enjoyed at his businesses. He belonged to the Ballard Elks Lodge #827 and American Legion. From La Monte, Missouri, Files served in the Navy. He last served at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and in 1963 decided to make Seattle his home. Married to Donna Last, he helped raise 4 children and has a son Charles Matthew Files of Puyallup. He married Jan Cole in 1984. Their son is Patrick Terry Files of Richmond Beach. Charley is also survived by his sister Linda Davis (Ed) in Sunrise Beach, Missouri and his brother Tom Files (Kathleen) in Kansas City, several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a granddaughter; Lexy Files. The family will host a Life Review and Celebration of Charley for his friends on June 12th between 1 and 5:00 p.m. at the Ballard Elks, 6411 Seaview Ave NW in Seattle, WA 98107. Burial will be in La Monte Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the La Monte Alumni Association Scholarship Fund ATTN: Peggy Moore at P.O. Box 126, La Monte, Missouri 65337 or Elks Kids Therapy c/o the Ballard Elks.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Charley Files
Linda Meredith
June 12, 2011
Wow, hard to believe Charley is gone. He and I officiated many women's basketball games over the years and served on the Executive Board of the SOWB together for many years. We used to have our Exec. Board meetings upstairs at the Golden Tides on Sunday nights. When we were done, we'd go downstairs, have a few drinks and dance to the music. Those were the days!!
My condolences to his family.
Linda Meredith
Lambert Ross
June 5, 2011
I can't imagine how many times, at how many places and with how many people we are going to miss my very good friend Charley. Words are so inadequate to describe the respect and love that we all had for Charley. We will all have to "dial it up a notch" to help replace all that the world lost with his passing. Damn it!
kevin atkinson
June 5, 2011
I met charley thru his long time friend lamber ross at charlie's bar just last year! charley was more than special. i liked him instantly! we visited all his famous dives and hangouts. i'm honored to have met charley and will miss him dearly. i cant wait to get back to the sloop and hoist a cold one up in charleys name!
cheers!
STYC Members
June 5, 2011
On behalf of the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club we would like to thank Charley for all his support for club events over the years, especially for our annual charity fund raiser, the Blakely Rock Benefit Regatta. Our Yacht Club will forever bear the name of Charley's establishment, one of the most popular in the Ballard area. To Charley's family, and employees we extend our deepest sympathies.
Pete and Jan Burnette
June 5, 2011
Our condolences to Charley's family. He's been a great friend of ours for years ---- and a good friend of mine during my younger single days.
We're going to miss your visits to the infamous Hillside Pub and Sports Bar, where you meticulously checked everything out to see if it passed your inspection of how a Garage Pub should be! (and tried to figure out if the shakes on the wall might have been left over from the remodel of Mondos).
Rest in Peace my friend. You were one of the all-time greats.
Pete and Jan Burnette
Doug Wicklund
June 2, 2011
I came to know Charley when I coached his son, Charlie, in Little League baseball in Kirkland. He was always offering to help out whereever he could and was friendly with everyone. Even many years later I would run into him when he was refereeing a basketball game and we'd catch up on things. All the best to the family!
Hageselle Randi
June 2, 2011
Worked for Charley and his friends years ago at the "Golden Tides" and over the years have met up with Charley many times. I remember one of his sons working in the kitchen at the tides while I worked there. He was most recently a neighbor here in Richmond Beach. Over the years he has never forgotten my name and has always stopped to chat, I have always thought of him as such a genuine and nice guy always with something positive to say. As I walked to the beach last week I thought of him. I am so sorry for his families loss.
Tom McAlees
June 1, 2011
Charley was a great guy all around. I worked for him many years ago, and helped him out at a couple of his places over the years. He also helped me out too when I bought my own place, always answering any questions I had & stopping by to see how we were doing. He was as straightforward as they came. If you asked his opinion, you got it. There are many of us out here who have worked for him, and learned from him. He will be missed by many.
Tom McAlees
One-Eyed Jack's Roadhouse - Lynnwood, WA.
June 1, 2011
Charley will be missed my many. He was a wonderful man! We saw him in Sun City a few months ago and he was walking and eating healthy, and seemed happy. Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa, Donna Files and family.
June 1, 2011
TO THE FILES FAMILY WERE VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF ONE GREAT GUY!! GOING TO MISS SEEING HIM AT THE SLOOP! JUST CHATTED WITH CHARLEY AT SPRING TRAINING, AGAIN VERY SORRY A HUGE LOSS! DONN & ROBIN WALVATNE TWISP WA!
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