Charles Ray Crary passed away peacefully Thursday, January 6, 2022, at his home in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Charles was born Friday, July 4, 1941m in Terre Haute, Indiana. He graduated from Gerstmeyer High School in 1958 as a member of the National Honor Society. He attended Lincoln Bible Institute in Lincoln, Illinois and Minnesota Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While there, he worked at Gray’s Drug store in Dinkytown and met his future wife: Kathleen Atchison, who worked across the street at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream shop.
Charles enlisted in the Air Force in July 1965 and was stationed at Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana. He married Kathleen Saturday, September 3, 1966, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Charles’ last two years of duty were at Alconbury Airforce base in Alconbury, England.
After discharge he attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Charles and Kathleen lived in several places including Wausau, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Charles was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Aviation Safety Inspector until he retired.
His marriage ended in 2003 and he moved to Camden, Tennessee. He later moved to McKenzie, Tennessee, and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
He loved dogs, especially his current dog: Rusty, who he spoke to like a good friend.
Charles was very handy and could fix anything and enjoyed flying his drone. He loved anything related to airplanes and astronomy and was always learning something new. He recently spent many hours studying for and passing his test to receive his Ham Radio license.
Charles is survived by his sister: Wilma Hastings (Larry); his ex-wife: Kathleen Crary; his three children: Karen Smith (Daniel), Kevin Crary (Amy) and Margaret Collins (Jeffery); grandchildren: Kayleigh Woller (Josiah), Aaron Smith, Cassandra Smith, Alyssa Smith, Julia Crary, Victoria Crary, Emily DeBoer (Ben), Maquanet Collins, Joshua Collins (Christina), Mitike Collins, Bete Collins, Tyler Collins, Paige Collins, Silas Collins; great-grandchildren: Zorah Woller and Elianah Woller; and several nieces and nephews.
Charles was preceded in death by his sister: Rhonda Harrison (Charlie); brother: Gil Crary (Nancy); and his parents: Lucile and William Crary.
A memorial for Mr. Crary will be announced soon.