Orvil Charley Sears Jr., was born at his grandparents’ home in Elba, Idaho, on Aug. 20, 1939, the firstborn to Orvil Charley Sears Sr. and Edris Rae Ward. His sister, Lana Rae, joined the family in 1942. Dad passed away peacefully Friday, May 3, 2024, at home with loved ones by his side. He was 84.
Dad was raised on a cattle ranch in what he liked to call God’s Country. This is where he learned all about the cowboy way of life. He attended grade school in Elba and Albion, Idaho, and graduated from Raft River High School in 1957, the same year he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dad was an athlete and scholar, securing himself a scholarship at the University of Idaho to play football for the Vandals. He eventually decided that football was too hard on his body and ironically believed that it interfered with his rodeo events and agenda. He graduated from UI with a degree in animal science in 1961. Dad also served with the U.S. Army National Guard after his college years.
Not long after this, he met Shirley Rae Wilson. When he first saw her, she was in hot pursuit of a herd of horses that had escaped their pens and were running loose on the highway. It was love at first sight. They were married Sept. 7, 1963, in Lewiston. They welcomed three children to their family, Cotton Lee, Dana Marie and Jody Ray.
Dad worked various jobs before accepting a position in Pullman at Washington State University in 1966. He was herds manager of both the horse program and cattle feeding lab before retiring in 2002. He was also a well-known farrier and collected many friends and stories along the way.
Dad excelled inside the rodeo arena as a calf roper, team roper and bull dogger, winning several championships throughout the northwest and beyond. He claimed the Washington Rodeo Association’s Team Roping title in 1969 and the coveted all-around title multiple years. He competed in the PRCA with Jody in 1985 during Dana’s reign as Miss Rodeo Washington as well as many team roping events throughout his competitive years. Dad raised and trained a national champion cutting horse named Flake and can be found in the National Appaloosa Museum in Moscow. Perhaps his favorite rodeo arena was at the family ranch in Pullman, teaching all three of his kids to ride, rope and handle animals with knowledge and care.
Dad was a storyteller and gifted writer. After retirement, he found himself in high demand as a cowboy poet. Reciting poetry and entertaining crowds came naturally for him which earned him “Rookie of the Year” at the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Utah in 2011.
The lights of his life were his kids and grandchildren and he never failed to show up for them. His presence in the stands or on the sidelines is unmatched. We could always hear his whistle of approval over the crowd, no matter the venue.
Dad is survived by his devoted wife of more than 60 years at their Pullman home, Shirley Rae “Sis”; his sister, Lana Rae Bowers and husband, Blair, of Burley, Idaho; the three of us and his beloved grandchildren: son Cotton Lee Sears (AnaMaria), of Pullman, and children Anna Lee Frailey (Jairo), Carolena Marie LeBaron (Dylan), Cotton Charley Sears and Samuel James Elliott Sears; daughter Dana Marie Ells (Daren), of Clarkston, and children Cedar Jade Seubert, Cutlar Steele Seubert and Stailee Rae Seubert; son Jody Ray Sears (Molly), of Sacramento, Calif., and children J Weston Ray Pancheri, Hannah Jo Lopez (Noah), John Todd ‘JT’ Sears, Kylee Ann Sears and Charley Ray Sears; two great-grandsons, Roy Matthew Frailey and Lawson Reid Lopez; many nieces and nephews who lovingly called him “Uncle Whacky,” cousins and friends who called him “O.C.,” “Obbie” or “Ob.” He also leaves behind Jennifer Elena Taylor who grew up in our household and called him “Pop,” and her sons, Lance and Jack. Dad is surely wrapped in the arms of his adoring mother and father as well as many friends and relatives who passed before him.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to Joe and Janet Harris, Mike Lott and the nurses from Gentiva Hospice for their companionship, caring hands and commitment to keeping dad safe and comfortable. Cotton has been a constant presence and help to mom and dad the past couple of years, taking his role of big brother and leader to a new level, for which we are grateful.
A viewing will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Thursday, May 9, at the Pullman Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1055 NE Orchard Drive, Pullman. His funeral service will follow the viewing at noon at the church with a luncheon to follow.
Please use the following link to join the service remotely zoom.us/j/95940613136. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. PDT, Saturday, May 11, at Elba Grandview Cemetery in Elba, with a luncheon to follow at the LDS Church in Elba.
Corbeill Funeral Home of Pullman is in charge of arrangements. Please send condolences to corbeillfuneralhomes.com.
Dad, we love and miss you but know we will see you again on the other side of the veil. You’re forever our hero and mom’s favorite dance partner.
