Charles Davis Tappy, 76, of Sterling, died Oct. 12, 2011, in Sterling, after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2003. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at Christ United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ed Bigler officiating. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Prairie View Cemetery in Stoneham.

Mr. Tappy was born Feb. 12, 1935, to Halcyone (Hoyle) and Russell Tappy in Sterling. He grew up on a farm 17 miles north of Stoneham. He graduated from Stoneham High School in 1953, and from Northeastern Junior College in 1955.

Mr. Tappy joined the Army in 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1959. He was in the Nike Ajax Guided Missile division, working surface to air missiles in Germany. Upon return he raised cattle with his dad.

He married Gayle Writebol on Aug. 7, 1960.

He purchased the farm in 1962. He also worked the next 25 years at Northern Motor Freight, Resler's Freight, Sterling Sheet Metal and the Sugar Beet Factory to keep the farm going.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle Tappy; son, Bryan Tappy and wife Janice of Sterling; daughter, Cheryl Cooley and husband Vince of Denver; four grandsons, Daniel and Joshua Frank of Sterling, Christopher and Zachary Cooley of Denver; and brother, Forrest Tappy of Stoneham.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Tappy; and sister, Phyllis Moore.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Plains or Cooperating Ministry of Logan County.