'Chick' leaves crowd smiling

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POCATELLO - Charles E. ''Chick'' Bilyeu's yellow director's chair sat empty on the black stage at the Chick and Diane Bilyeu Theater in Idaho State University's Frazier Hall.

Nearly the entire cast of characters from Chick's life filled the theater, but for the first time, Chick wasn't there to direct them with his booming voice.

The former ISU professor, theater director and state senator passed away at his family farm Tuesday from cancer at the age of 90, and Saturday Chick's countless friends and family members came together to celebrate his big life.

Chick's daughter, Brigette Bilyeu, recalled the ''big man with a great voice who was loved by many.'' She told of his loving nature and sense of humor and said he considered all the students he taught at ISU his friends.

''He lived a big life and his absence leaves us all empty,'' Brigette said. ''But the mere thought of his name leaves us smiling.''

Chick's son Clark and daughter Valencia told stories and ''Chickisms'' that will leave everyone smiling for years to come. The siblings recalled memories of family vacations, holidays and ordinary days in the Bilyeu household that truly showed Chick's character as a fun-loving family man.

Valencia told a story about one holiday when the family played a game called ''Guess the Nose.'' Everyone put their nose through a slit in a bed sheet and the other family members had to guess whose nose it was protruding through.

''Nobody guessed correctly until Chick put his nose through the sheet,'' Valencia said, referring to Chick's unmistakable profile.

Bilyeu's children told of his gentle demeanor, his affability and, of course, his trademark voice that they labeled as ''acoustical perfection.'' Clark remembered how that voice often affected his little league baseball performance.

''When I was at bat and the pitcher was in his wind-up, I would get startled when I'd hear that legendary voice boom, 'Let's get a hit Clark,''' Chick's son said. ''It probably cost me 100 points on my batting average.''

All of Chick's children acknowledged that it wasn't possible to talk about him without mentioning his love for his wife Diane and their ''romance fit for the big screen.'' Chick met Diane when he was directing ''South Pacific'' and she was cast as the leading lady.

''They eloped during rehearsals and she stayed his leading lady for the rest of his life,'' Brigette said.

Valencia told how Chick, who was involved with theater his entire life, loved Shakespeare. She quoted from Shakespeare's ''As You Like It,'' and related it to Chick's eventful life.

''Shakespeare once wrote, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts','' she said. ''If that is true, the world stage is a little less directed today.''

Before exiting the stage, Chick's children took a final bow to the empty, yellow directors chair.

By Adam Chambers

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