Charles Floyd was born on August 4, 1936 in Callaway, Nebraska to Floyd LeRoy and Addalecia Myrtle (McFate) Patterson; their first son and first child. He later was joined by a sister, LaDonna Dee, and then, a brother, Norman Dean. Charles, better known as ‘Chuck’, spent his growing up years and most of his life on a farm on Stop Table. In grade school, he attended a rural school close by his home and went to high school at Callaway. He loved his cattle and continued to farm until his middle seventies when his son, Brad, took over the reins.
Charles married a ‘Sandhill’ girl from near Stapleton, Nebraska, Barbara [Barb] Fay Connell on June 4, 1966 at Stapleton, Nebraska. To this union, 2 sons were born, Bradley Charles on February 28, 1967; soon to be followed by Bruce Leon, June 20, 1968.
Besides farming and raising cattle, Charles faithfully attended Morning Star Church until his health deteriorated and he had to be satisfied with watching Dr. David Jeremiah on T V. He had for years taught adult Sunday School class at Morning Star Church, and even filled the pulpit on a few occasions. ‘Chuck’ accepted Christ as his Savior as a teen-ager and was always interested in Bible prophesy, liking to study the book of Revelation, and such passages as Matthew 24, John 14, passages in ! Thessalonians 4 and 5, Daniel, Ezekiel and the like. Shortly before his passing, he remarked several times about the ‘streets of gold’ and of the fact of there being no devil or sin where he was headed. Although always trying to live up to his perfect standing in Christ, it is now realized!
Charles loved playing softball and enjoyed his Morning Star teammates. He was catcher and had a strong arm for throwing to second. Later whenever he and his former teammates got together, you can be sure they hashed over those ‘good ole’ days’ of playing ball! A few years back, Morning Star’s old home plate was dug up during some dirt removal. Charles was contacted to see if he was interested in having that relic from the past; and now it resides in the Morning Star Church vestibule with a plate on it designating the names of the ballplayers.
Charles was always proud of his boys’ and grandkids’ accomplishments and looked forward to visiting with them about their interests, whether it was sports related or work related, or something else. With Brad and Blake, it often turned into long conversations, and with Britni, Grandpa and Granddaughter had an ongoing battle about making sure to tell the other one to behave themselves.
In addition to serving as Lay Leader and holding other positions at Morning Star Church, Charles served as board member on the Callaway Co-op board, and when they joined with Gothenburg, he served on the Gothenburg Farmland Service Board of Directors. Later he became a member of the Callaway Schoolboard, and along with his fellow board members, was instrumental in forming the Nebraska Small Schools Finance Coalition which he headed for several years. After years of testifying at the Unicameral, the Coalition eventually was able to get bills passed in the legislature to help out our smaller schools. Charles received awards of recognition. And there are many interesting stories to tell about his experiences of appearing before the legislators!
Among those preceding Charles in death are his son, Bruce, his folks, Floyd and Addalecia, sister LaDonna Longmore, his father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, in-laws, and numerous others close to his heart.
Remaining to mourn his death, are his wife, Barb of Callaway; son, Brad and wife, Keri of Callaway [who had for the last few years seen to many of his medical needs]; grandson Blake and wife, Brittney of Geneva, great-grandchildren, Kylie, Maci and Ryder; granddaughter, Britni Taylor and husband, David III of Broken Bow, and great-grandchild, David IV; brother, Norm and family of Orange County, California, members of his sister LaDonna’s family and a host of other relatives and friends.
Charles’ last days with the family gave them memories that will stay with them forever. For several days he had tried to prepare Barb for the possibility that lay ahead, and worried about how she was going to get along. He also was concerned that some family members hadn’t made a commitment to Christ. Starting with Britni and David taking him in to see his doctor, final events and ‘good-byes’ began to unfold, and as they pulled away from his home and yard that day, Charles told the place ‘good-bye’. In the hospital, he made reference several times to walking on the ‘streets of gold’, and when Britni tried hiding her tears, he told her she shouldn’t be worrying about, or feeling sorry, for him as he would be walking those ‘streets of gold’. Because of Great Papa’s love for the little ‘greats’, a smaller, but rather amusing concern for them, was that he was wanting to give each one of them an apple [which had to be Jazz, of course]. Blake and family joined the rest of the family at the hospital Sunday, the day before Gramps passed. It so happened that Barb had in her overnight bag enough Jazz apples so that each ’great’ could have one; and so that particular wish of Great-Papa’s was fulfilled! Back to Charles: although he was ready to go, Charles still fought valiantly to remain with his family that he so loved.
Funeral Services will be on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Callaway United Methodist Church with Pastor Lee Wonch, officiating.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 3-5 p.m. at Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway.
Interment will be in Stop Table Cemetery near Callaway, Nebraska.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Morning Star United Methodist Church.
Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
