‘What a legacy, what a life’

Reflecting on former county treasurer Charlotte Demlow

NEWPORT — Most of the time, a person can’t predict the last time they will see someone. Pend Oreille County Treasurer Nicole Dice saw former county treasurer and Newport resident Charlotte Demlow last week. It wasn’t uncommon for Charlotte to visit the office long after her retirement from the position in 2010. After the women chatted and Charlotte had left, Dice was multitasking when she accidentally called Charlotte’s cell phone. When she answered, Dice apologized for mix up. Charlotte just laughed.

“You can call me anytime,” Charlotte told Dice.

It turned out to be the last time. Charlotte passed away suddenly at her home Thursday, Dec. 11. She was 87 years old.

“I feel like it’s a blessing to have that memory,” Dice said Monday.

Besides being county treasurer from 1999–2010, Charlotte was a member of the Newport branch of Soroptimist International, a non-profit dedicated to making higher education accessible to girls and women. Dice is the club president, so the two women saw each other fairly frequently outside of their bond as former and current elected county officials.

“She was an easy person to like,” Dice said. “She was a very strong woman, supportive, funny — she could laugh with you. There’s so much to miss about her.”

The first time Dice ran for the treasurer’s office, she called Charlotte to ask for advice. Dice said she’s always been nervous about public speaking, but Charlotte came to every one of her speaking engagements while she was campaigning.

“It meant a lot of me,” Dice said.

Charlotte was born on Nov. 21, 1938, in Mason City, Washington to Robert and Mildred Gibbs. The family moved to Hope, Idaho before settling on 60 acres on Freeman Lake Road in west Bonner County.

After graduating from Priest River High School in 1957, Charlotte joined the Women in the Air Force program and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas before being assigned to Del Rio, Texas. There she met and fell in love with Sergeant George “Bud” Demlow. They were married on Dec. 21, 1957, in Waco, Texas.

The couple then went to Sandia Air Base, New Mexico, then to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and came back to Lackland, where Bud served as a TI for the Basic Military Training School. Bud retired in 1972, and the family moved to the Pend Oreille River Valley, settling in Newport.

The Demlows were influential in the development of emergency medical services in Pend Oreille County, starting with EMT certification with Groom Enterprises, which ran ambulance service in the area at the time. The couple also volunteered with Pend Oreille County Fire District 4 teaching EMT courses.

After 51 years of marriage Bud Demlow died in 2002 and Charlotte continued her life of community service with Soroptimist’s International and church, becoming an avid golfer in the process. She could be found assisting at Soroptimist and United Church of Christ events, known for her amiable demeanor and good recipes. She did not seek the spotlight but was well known for her behind-the-scenes efforts to support the community.

“What a legacy and a life,” Dice said.

Charlotte’s funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29 at the Newport United Church of Christ at 430 W. Third St. in Newport, with a graveside service to follow at the Newport Cemetery.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.