NORWICH – Charles W. McKissick, 56, of Norwich, passed away Friday afternoon, Jan. 8, 2010, in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Known to his friends as Charlie, Chuck, Chick, Tiny, Lurch, and The Big Guy – all of which fit him in one way or another – Charles was born in Albany in February of 1953, the son of Robert and Charlotte DeLap McKissick II. He graduated from Otselic Valley Central School with the Class of 1971. Well known in school for his basketball skills, Charles was offered a scholarship to play for Syracuse University. Unfortunately other circumstances beyond his control caused him to deny this opportunity. On Jan. 11, 1975, in Beaver Meadow, he married his best friend and love of his life, Teena Tefft. They moved out of the area for a short period of time but, after the birth of their first child, they returned to Norwich where their second daughter was born and have resided in Norwich since then. During his lifetime, Charles held several jobs, some of them together as second jobs, to support his family. These included Baillee Lumber, McFadden Farms, Norwich Shoe Co., Lok-N-Logs, McDonald’s Restaurant, and the City of Norwich where he was a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator until 1990 when he was disabled with a back injury.
In May of 2000, Chuck was given the opportunity to receive a heart transplant which gave him a chance to live another 9+ years, to meet his daughter’s loves-of-their-lives, James and Robert. He was able to give his permission to both sons-in-law to ask for his daughter’s hands in marriage and escort both daughters to the altar. Chuck was considered by many to be a wonderful husband and the perfect father. A lot of his friends and family considered him the BIGGEST Kid anyone ever knew. He had a tremendous love for all children, horses, knives, and his extremely large extended family, hunting and fishing, the Giants, and S. U.
Charles is survived by his wife of 35 years, Teena McKissick of Norwich; by his daughters and their husbands, Catrina and James Truesdell of Oneonta and Christina and Robert D’Ordine Jr. of North Providence, RI; his mother. Charlotte McKissick of Norwich. He is survived by brothers and sisters and their spouses: Robert and Tina McKissick III of Franklin, Faye and Ken Howard of DeRuyter, Edward and R. Laura McKissick of South Otselic, David McKissick of Norwich, Helen Baker of Sherburne, and Roger and Linda McKissick of Las Cruces, N.M. Also surviving are his father-in-law, Maracene Tefft and his wife Barbara; his brothers-in-law: Dennis Tefft and wife Donna of Milford, James Tefft of Norwich, Mark Tefft of Oxford, Charles Tefft of Norwich, and Robert Tefft of Cincinnatus; sisters-in-law, Helen ManWarren and husband James of So. Plymouth, and Kareen Hartwell and husband Wayne of DuNellen, Fla.; step-sisters-in-law, Betty Ann Clemens of Georgia and Brenda Hollifield and husband Keith of Georgia; step-brother-in-law, Glen Brewster and wife Doreen of Cincinnatus; many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles; and by his special friend, Paul White of South New Berlin and many other friends too numerous to mention. Charles was predeceased by his father, Robert G. McKissick II and his mother-in-law, Cora R. Tefft.
Funeral services for Charles will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. John Brown of Sherburne will officiate. Interment will be in the Wayside Rest Cemetery at a later date. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Norwich Fire Dept. and Emergency Squad, 31 E. Main St., Norwich, NY 13815, with thanks for doing a great job of helping us so many times with Chuck’s falls, and transporting to hospitals.