Charles Lynden Puckett, 78, passed away Friday, July 1, 2005, at Schlesinger Geriatric Center, following an illness. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma, June 14, 1927, to Edward Newton (E. N.) and Sarah Amanda Puckett. He lived most of his younger life in Enid, later living in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Austin, Texas, and for the past nine years in Beaumont, enjoying residency in his apartment at the Ridgewood Retirement Community.
Charles was home schooled, later attending Pearson School in Muskogee, one of the early schools devoted to special education. He is a member of Calder Baptist Church and an “adopted” member of the Seeker’s Sunday School Class. An avid letter writer with an unusually keen memory, Charles was the Puckett family’s connection to one another and their family history. He also had his own personal ministry, writing to other homebound persons.
In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by brothers, Ed Puckett and his wife Mary, Beal Puckett, and Roy Puckett and his wife Nell; sisters, Ruth Robinson and her husband Ralph and Mary Lee Sutton and her husband Bill; nephews, Harlan Roy Puckett, David Beal Puckett, and John Mason Sutton; and niece, Douglas Vines.
He is survived by his brother, Howard (Bud) Puckett and his wife Charlotte Ann of Enid; sisters, Naomi Bear and her husband Ted of Alexandria, Virginia, Maxine Mercer and her husband Marne of Aptos, California, and Gwen Mercer and her husband Ted of Beaumont; his brother Beal Puckett’s widow, Juanita Lyon of Byers, Texas; nephews, William Sutton, Mark Bear, Lee Mercer, Larry Mercer, David Puckett, and Luke Puckett and their families; and nieces, Mary Nell Legg, Linda Ogden, Ann Bennett, and Nancy Usera and their families and the family of Douglas Vines.
Charles will be missed by everyone who knew him, including family, friends, his church, the many persons with whom he corresponded, and his friends at Marbridge Ranch and the Ridgewood Retirement Community.
Thank you to all who shed a ray of light into Charles’ last difficult days.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Calder Baptist Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, Oklahoma. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.. Monday, July 4, 2005 at the mortuary and on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at Calder Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702 or First Baptist Church of Enid, 401 W. Main Avenue, Enid, Oklahoma 73701.
