CARBONDALE — Charles Joseph McCaughan “Charlie Joe,” 84, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 2, 2018.
Charlie was born on Oct. 22, 1933, in Carbondale, the son of George and Marie (Pryor) McCaughan.
He married Evalina Umberger on Nov. 22, 1957, in Maywood. They shared more than 60 years of marriage together.
They moved back to Carbondale in 1961 where Charlie worked for the City of Carbondale Water Department and later the Carbondale Fire Department. He retired in 1986 with 20 years of service to the Fire Department and 14 of those years as the fire chief.
Charlie was a member of Boskydell Baptist Church and later attended Grand Avenue Christian Church. His trust and faith in Jesus Christ was reflected in his life thru the giving and serving of others.
He is survived by his wife, Evalina; his four children, Terri Priddy, Ginger (Randy) Murray, Diana (Ted) Lomax, and Larry (Stephani) McCaughan; his grandchildren, Traci (Jeremy) Wolf, Aaron Priddy, Elle Murray, Casey Murray, Tim (Kiri) Lomax, Jaime Lomax, Zachary Lomax, and Jeremy (Desire) Lomax, and Jacob McCaughan; great-grandchildren, Cati and Noah Wolf, Xander and Adley Lomax, Maia and Zara Lomax, and Jordyn Lomax.
Services will be at noon Friday, April 6 at Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale, with Pastor Larry Shacklee officiating. Burial will be in Murdale Garden of Memory in Murphysboro. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 5, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Boskydell Baptist Church or Grand Avenue Christian Church.
Charlie Joe lived his life one day at a time. His passion for life and his high sense of justice, for all, ruled his conversations and relationships. For all who knew Charlie, there were certain topics that would always end with a lesson, sermon, or political speech. He never lost an argument. It was this passion that God used in Charlie’s life to endear all who met him. His passion for his faith in God and his love for his family were what he lived for. Along with many others, Charlie’s grandchildren enjoyed his
unique personality and “sayings”. Charlie especially loved attending the grandchildren’s sporting events, when he could, and usually ended up being “Grandpa” for the entire team. He loved them all and they loved him.
Charlie was also passionate about being “outdoors”. Any day of the week you could drive by their home on South 51 and you would see him out on his front porch loving nature. Even in the winter months Charlie would put on his parka and sit outside with a cup of coffee. He enjoyed hunting and trapping and instilled a sense of nature in his children and grandchildren. He loved the mountains and he and his wife, Evalina, made many trips “Out West”. One of their most favorite trips was driving the Alaskan highway in 2000. But even more than his love for his family and the outdoors was his love for his wife of 60 years, Evalina. The vows Charlie and Evvy made to each other on their wedding day in 1957 were just as important the last days as the first.
Charlie Joe was a passionate man with many talents that he gladly shares with family and friends. He will be missed but his love remains with all who knew him.
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