Charles M. (Charlie) DeLorme

Charlie DeLorme, 67, progressed forward into love and light on November 24, 2020 peacefully in Silverton, Colorado. He was born April 22, 1953, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Charlie and his wife Susan owned and operated Wild Rivers Expeditions in Bluff, Utah from 1983 to 2005 where they conducted countless educational river trips on the San Juan. Many nationally recognized institutions and individuals were regular participants, including Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, the Archaeological Conservancy, School for Advanced American Research, museums, petroleum geologists, rock art scholars and universities.

A glowing description of Wild Rivers Expeditions in author Tony Hillerman’s best-seller A Thief of Time in 1988 put Wild Rivers and Bluff on the map. Charlie went on to lead cultural and natural resource expeditions by river and land in Baja California and Chiapas, Mexico, as well as Guatemala, Alaska, Siberia and the Russian Far East. Charlie had a lifelong love of tourism and believed in the hospitality industry as a cornerstone of economic development.

During the 1970s he worked in Crested Butte and Gunnison, CO. He spent the summer of 1971 working underground in Silverton. Chef, outdoor adventurer, river guide, destination marketer and entrepreneur, he was a 50-year resident of the Four Corners area. Charlie later worked in economic development for San Juan County, Utah and tourism marketing for the State of Utah, serving for 10 years as a Utah International Trade Delegate. Following his retirement from Utah, Charlie enjoyed working as a customer service representative for Citizen’s State Bank in Silverton.

He is survived by beloved wife and partner, Susan Elizabeth Irwin; seven daughters, Jennifer Davila (Antonio), Autumn DeLorme (Paul Fried), Erin Nelson (Roger), Maidee DeLorme, Heather Morgan (Brett), Ivy Strong (Matt) and Sarah Pollitt (David); 15 grandchildren; and sister Kathryne DeLorme (David Aronovici).

Interment was at Silverton Hillside Cemetery. Rev. Leon Sampson presided over a graveside eulogy. A celebration of life is planned for next summer.