Obituary of Christipher Loyd Wilman

With the assistance of his Grandma Wilman, Christopher Loyd Wilman was welcomed in to the world at his home in Anacortes, WA, on March 3, 1953, to Charles and Lola Wilman. Between the beaches of Anacortes and road trips to Alaska to visit his Grandpa and Grandma Wilkins, Chris’ first year was an adventurous one. From Anacortes, the family had moved to Weippe, Idaho, where they would welcome Chris’ sister RoseAnna to the family. Their stay in Weippe was short lived as the decision was made to move back to Northern Washington where their family was made complete by the birth of Chris’ brother Phillip in 1955. The family would call Anacortes home and was where Chris was introduced to logging at a young age, as his dad had owned and operated tug boats for logging operations. By the early 60s, Spokane, WA, would be home until their move to Cold Bay, Alaska, one day after the 1964 Anchorage earthquake. Cold Bay would bring great childhood memories as well as ones Chris probably wished he could forget. Great memories of adventures on their motorcycles, land to be explored and oceans to be discovered as well as a life lesson in what animals to be ignored. During one of Chris’ many adventures, he was bit by a parka squirrel which resulted in a fourteen day shot treatment leading in his lifelong hatred for needles. But he loved Alaska. That love of Alaska would lead the family to venture in to the Yukon to Tanana, Alaska, until the late 60s when a move back to Idaho to be near family was inevitable. Living in Indian Valley, Chris and Phillip would step in to the head-of-house role assisting their mom with the chore of milking cows while their dad was serving his country in Vietnam. With his dad’s return to state-side in 1969, the family enterprise expanded with the purchase of two cattle trucks. This move would be the start of Chris’ love affair for driving truck. By his Sophomore year, the road was calling and Chris gave up his title as the Greatest Wrestler at Nyssa High School to work for his dad. With Chris as the newest member in the family business, “Wilman and Sons” made the move to Cambridge, Idaho, to haul cattle for local ranchers.  From 1973-1977, Chris would work out of Pendroy, Montana, as well as Seattle/Tacoma for Country Line Equipment. By the late 70s Chris would settle down in the Pierce, Idaho, area, working for Ray Coon. This job would lead to the purchase of his own logging truck and establishing a business with his brother Steve. In 1988, Chris would meet the love of his life, Fern Campbell. Making sure she would always be his to love, Chris made her his wife on August 19th, 1989. Chris and Fern were blessed to have three amazing girls and two incredible boys. With each of their sons leaving this earth too early, Chris turned his attention to his girls, teaching them each how to drive, hunt, and ride horses. Most of all, Chris and Fern taught their kids to be amazing parents, with each of them having grandbabies for them to love. And Chris loved his grandkids more than anything. During Chris’ truck driving career he drove for outfits such as Zenner Farms,M. A. DeAtley, Motley & Motley and the latest being Lew Mangum. Chris’ expertise behind the wheel of a truck allowed him to take the title in various driving competitions during local events such as Pierce 1860s Days as well as Orofino Lumberjack Days. Chris is survived by his wife Fern at their home in Juliaetta, Idaho, daughter Kendra and her husband Scott Corkill of Council and children Kolar and Kelsie, daughter Annie and husband Ben Mack of Hayden and children Gabrielle, Sami, Amelia, Isaiah  and Lillian and daughter Kristin Wilman of Lewiston and her little girl Isabelle, his mother Lola Wilman, sister RoseAnna and her husband Carl, brother Phillip and his wife Georgia, along with many nieces and nephews. Grave side services will be held Saturday, August 12th, at 11am at the Fix Ridge Cemetery in Juliaetta, Idaho, with a potluck dinner to follow in the Juliaetta Park. Visit his online memorial and sign his guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com