Charles William Strawser Jr., better known as Chuck, Uncle Chuck, Pappy, and Pops went home to visit with his Mother, Father and a few old friends on July 6, 2016. Chuck was born in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada on November 21, 1950. He was a resident of Mount Ida and Greenwood, Arkansas. He was a good Christian man and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He passed away unexpectedly from heart failure at St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas on the afternoon of July 6, 2016. Chuck is the lifelong sweetheart and husband of Linda Kay Pettway Strawser, his wife of 45 years. She was the love of his life. They began dating when she was 14 and he was 17. Chuck orchestrated a surprise party for her 15th birthday with a gift of a pearl and diamond pre-engagement ring (unbeknownst to her parents, of course). They were married August 6, 1971 at Eastside Baptist Church in Fort Smith. Chuck was a graduate from Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1969 and attended Westark Community College. He retired several years ago from Arkansas Best Corporation, Corporate Headquarters in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Linda retired from Arkansas public schools and Arkansas Department of Human Services and now contracts for Arkansas Counseling and Psychodiagnostics in Arkadelphia as a mental health therapist. He is the father of Brian Neil Strawser and wife Kasey DeLane Strawser and Toni Michelle Summers and husband David Grant Summers. He is Pappy to his grandchildren, Kaylea Jewel Summers, Trinnon Chase Strawser, Irish Rain Powers and Skyler DeLane Powers. He leaves four sisters and one brother: Linda Isham and her husband Jim, Raoma Carriger, Norma Schaberg and her husband Jerry Schaberg, Charlene Carson, Lonnie Strawser and his wife Pam. He loved his in-laws like brothers and sisters and he leaves Sandy and Larry Joe Goodwin, Bill and Patty Pettway, Ron Pettway, Sheila and Dennis Dolan, Gary and Beth Pettway and many nieces and nephews. Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles William Strawser Sr., his mother, Raoma Christova Strawser-Richard and his step-father Carson “Dick” Richard as well as his baby brother, Robert Matt Strawser. Chuck was an avid reader who enjoyed trips to the ocean, weekends on the houseboat at Mountain Harbor, floating in the river, canoeing, fishing, hunting, camping, researching politics, collecting everything, holding his wife’s hand and spending time with his grandchildren. We were all blessed to have shared lots of laughter, hugs, and stories with Chuck and we have all learned many valuable life lessons from him during his 65 years with us, among them: Always share your smile with everyone. Make “life-long friends” in the grocery store, at the gas station and at garage sales. Listen to children. I mean listen to them like they are tiny diplomats visiting from a foreign country and then contemplate the important thoughts that they have shared with you. Tell the people you love that they are beautiful. Remember your roots. Share who and what those roots are with your children and make them proud of where they came from. Be fiercely loyal to those you love. I mean the “I’ll help you burn the evidence” kind of loyal. Say things that create big belly laughs at every opportunity and share the laughter with everyone. This is also good practice because a good laugh will get you out of trouble every time. Never, and I do mean never, have “too much fun” without including him. Hug. Hug everyone that will accept your hug and when you do hug, do it like you mean it and be right there in that hug as long as it takes! In his lifetime, Chuck made meaningful contact with people on a daily basis. Those who have taken his lessons to heart will continue his legacy of laughter and love and that is what he would ask of us all. Funeral was at 2 pm Monday, July 11, 2016 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood, Arkansas with interment at Liberty Cemetery. Viewing was Sunday from 1-8 pm at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5-7 pm. Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Strawser, David Summers, Jerry Schaberg, Larry Joe Goodwin, Dennis Dolan, Ron Pettway, Cory McCain, Chris Pettway, Eric Goodwin, David South and Bill Pettway. To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
