Charles Gilbert Maben
Date of birth - November 24, 1940
Date of death - November 2, 2024
Our Dad, Charles, greeted each day, grateful to be alive and ready to take on the day. He would say "Every Day is a Good Day."
On November 2, 2024, he woke up to face the challenges of his day and passed away. He passed, working hard to live, but God had different plans that day. We miss him tremendously --- his voice, advice, smiles, giggles, love of food, and worldview.
Charles was born to Roberta and Pete Maben on November 24, 1940, in Oregon City, Oregon. He was their first child. Charles liked being a big brother to Donald, Deanna, Cheryl, Richard, and Kenneth.
As a child, he enjoyed spending time with his grandparents, cousins, and family, and continued to tell stories about them. Some of his childhood interests included Boy Scouts, 4-H, showing sheep, and playing the accordion.
Charles graduated from Molalla High School in 1959 and was involved in student council, cheerleading, track, and wrestling. After school, he worked at Circle 7X Ranch in Mulino, training and showing Appaloosa and Arabian horses, during high school and after.
High School is where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Darlene Marson. They both had a true passion for horses and animals. This interest brought them together and sustained their relationship for 66 years.
Charles and Darlene were married on November 23, 1961. They celebrated 63 years of marriage.
They purchased a farm together in Madras, Oregon, in 1963. Charles farmed the land and purchased and sold other acreages around Madras through the years. He grew alfalfa, wheat, potatoes, mint, grass, and other crops.
He raised sheep, cattle, always had horses and a dog. He truly loved Angus cattle and spent his life raising them, farming the land, and moving the irrigation pipe. If he wasn't working on the farm, he was relaxing in his chair with a big bowl of popcorn, coffee, a Capital Press newspaper, and an old Western show on TV, or in his earlier years, a Louis L'Amour book.
Charles attended Oregon State University and Central Oregon Community College. He enjoyed reading and learning. He always wanted to be a lawyer and relished a good argument with anyone. Carpentry, wood and leather work, welding, driving tractors, backhoes, and semi-trucks were among his projects and pastimes.
In his later years, Chuck fancied cook, stocking his pantry, and eating. The grandkids savored his potato salad, chicken and dumplings, wood stove stew, fruit cobblers, and popcorn.
Charles was a true Cowboy. For most of his days, he wore cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, Levi jeans, and a clean white shirt. He enjoyed listening to country music, swing dancing, raising cattle, and riding horses. He was strong until the very end.
Hopping up into his lifted Ford truck or jumping up on his flat bed to feed his cows. Raising over 100 head of cattle for 62 years, he never let anything slow him down or stop him from doing what needed to be done.
These skills, mindset, and passions he passed on to his children and grandchildren.
Together, Charles and Darlene kept the farm going, and also owned and operated a truck company, Ca-Jant. Family was very important to both of them. They have four children: Angela, Tamara, Charles, and John. Four in-law children: Duane, Steve, Christie and Sunmiet. Nine grandchildren: Robyn, Tiffany, Garrett, Felicia, Sabrina, Kaitlin, Justin, Dylan, and Tyler. Two in-law Grandchildren, Kenny and Zane. One grat-grandchild, Scarlett Mae, and many nieces and nephews.
Charles was a wonderful Dad and he tried to tach as many things as possible to all of his children and grandchildren. Always took the time to listen and give his advice, show you in person or on the phone how to solve a problem. Celebrated all our accomplishments and rights of passages.
He really enjoyed joking around with his grandkids and showing them how to do things. Singing to the babies, playing games, encouraging each child to do their best and follow their dreams. There is not enough time or space to list all of the things he did or show all the photos.
He was a good neighbor and friend to many people over the years. Every animal he met was his friend, although he didn't care much about goats. He loved his part, country, holidays, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, books, and a good steak.
He didn't care much of vacations, saying "Everything I need is right here on the farm. Land, water, sunrise, sunset, animals and family. I don't need to go anywhere else."
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From the celebration of Charle Maben's life [August 23, 2025]:
