William C. "Chuck" Walkey's Obituary
William Charles Walkey (Chuck) passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood, Washington on November 11, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. In his final days, Chuck was surrounded by love, peace and good memories thanks to the many visits from friends and family near and far.
Chuck was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on February 22, 1960, while his father, John Robert (Jack) was attending UMASS Amherst and his mother, Joan, was in nursing school. Throughout his early childhood, Chuck lived at times with both his maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Malcolm Campbell, and his paternal grandparents, Marian and William Robert Walkey. Chuck was showered with love by both his grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles during his early years and throughout his lifetime.
Chuck’s parents ultimately settled in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Here, Chuck developed his golf game, his close and lifelong childhood friends, and his love for Duxbury. Chuck will be keenly missed by his Duxbury boys along with their wives and families. After graduating from Duxbury High School in 1978, Chuck attended Wake Forest University and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Here, Chuck gained the first of his three advanced degrees. He will be dearly missed by his Wake brothers and their lovely, devoted wives.
Following college graduation, Chuck returned to Boston and, while attending Boston University for his MBA, met his wife, Deedra Smith (Deedee). In 1991, Chuck and Deedee moved to Seattle, Washington, before marrying back in Duxbury in 1994. While in Seattle, Chuck worked for a real estate firm but pursued his love for golf by working at the Wing Point Golf Club on Bainbridge Island. After the birth of their son Will in 1995, Chuck stayed at home full time to raise their family, with Virginia arriving in 1997. In 2000, Chuck began pursing a Physical Therapy degree, graduating in 2006 from the University of Puget Sound. Chuck and Deedee spent wonderful years in the north end of Tacoma before moving to Lakewood in 2005. There, they have been blessed by wonderful friends and neighbors on Forest Glen Lane.
Chuck will be remembered fondly for his incredible loyalty to his friends and family, his quick, but often unseen wit, his gracious manners, his ability to recall any Bruins line-up from the 1970s, and his devotion to the game of golf. His family and close friends will miss his outstanding and creative meals, his salty language on New England game days, and his patience when resolving a conflict, discussing a task, or sinking a putt. That steady patience was demonstrated in child rearing, in excelling through years of higher education, and in caring for his three beloved Labrador retrievers, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Yukon.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Deedra Smith Walkey, their children, Will and Virginia, his parents, Joan and Jack Walkey, his sister, Amy Walkey along with her husband, Paul Griffin, his brother, Rod Walkey along with his wife, Catherine, and his numerous sister-in-laws, brother-in laws, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents in-law and dear, intimate friends.
A celebration of his life will be held at Historic 1625 on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 4 p.m. Services will be held at Pilgrim Church, Duxbury, Massachusetts, on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?