Charles R. "Chuck" Randolph McCain

Hi Grandpa-
This note is mostly just to tell you how much I miss you. I will never forget making pancakes with you in
 the morning and me setting the table. I didn't get to see you much but I really treasured the days
that I was there with you. I wish I could have 1 more day to do all of the things we loved doing
together- Making pancakes, Hiking, Looking for cool rocks, spending time with grandma in
Bisbee, and everything else that you did with me. Words cannot describe how much I miss you and
want you here in my life. But whenever I think about you and start complaining about how hard
my life is, I think "Everything happens for a reason". I know you are watching me up there, and I
hope to see you soon. I love you so much and please bless me and my family and friends with the
things we need.
      Thanks for the memories, I will cherish them forever.
                         - Your Grand-Daughter,
                                           Ashlee

Chuck was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and a friend. You can point at the things he created, physical, concrete and feel his passion for them. You could also see the passion he had for his family. He loved fiercely, and he talked of his wife, children and grandchildren with a tenderness that I understood. I am his younger sister and I know from whence he came. The things that made him the man he was, a phoenix of sorts, rising from the ashes of tragedies that began when he was 15...some people who experience all the pain that came his way become fractured and spend a lifetime trying to become 'whole again'. But Chuck was a survivor and determined to live a life of which he could be proud. He had a parochial education which stopped at 12th grade. He actually was a self-taught, self-made man. His keen eye (better than 20/20 vision) and capacity to learn kept him always yearning for more....and kept him working harder than most. He was at the age when most men slow down and count their blessings. Chuck counted his blessings, but slow down? I asked for him to come see me, bring his Alfa and let me show him off, I was so proud to have him as my brother...but I will regret forever I didn't call for this email is all I have: Hey Les, Good to hear from you,hope all is well.I will take a rain check on the trip as I am in a ass kickin contest at work to get enough work to stay open , and pay the bills.But when I get able to travel for some weeks on end I will give you a call.I am sure there are lots of Vintage Guys around to get on site.You could get on line and run down someone fast.Stay dry and say Hi to the boys,Love CR I know if I walk out at his place I will hear his laughter bouncing off the mountain, and feel a part of him there, if I look at the faces of his children and grandchildren I will see him there too.

My brother Chuck's given name was Charles Randolf McCain Jr. and as a boy he went by Randy.

That is until I was growing up and began speaking calling his name.  You see I had Elmer Fudd syndrome, I could not pronounce my r's they were w's w sounds. WWandy? Where are you?

Chuck even tried to patiently help me thru this..." Patti it is rrr, rrr, Randy." Then he would pinch my cheeks together and say, " say  rrr, rrr ".  I said, " rrr, rrr, WWandy".  He laughed and his reply to me was Patti you can call me Chuck. This is why he changed his name to Chuck.  Thank you for being a great brother and surrogate dad to me I will keep your memories cherished in my heart and await the day when we all will be reunited.

How can I describe my brother? If I was to tell you about him, I'd have to try to capture the smell of bluebonnets in Texas, the dirt under rocks as we looked for snakes. How he could put spin on something and make you think it was a fabulous treasure if you only saw it the way he did. We hung together, played and grew. Our first cowboy boots matched. My feet grew faster than his, he wore his longer. I hated that. I'd like to think that I taught him that girls were strong. We were equals. truth is, I probably idolized him, never told him though. Real truth is, he taught me to be strong.Chuck, you will forever be resting in my heart.