Charles Lonnie Fuqua

FORT WORTH - Charles Lonnie Fuqua, 83, left us to locate fishin' holes in heaven on October 31, 2009. FUNERAL: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Stephenville Funeral Home. Burial to follow at the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Stephenville. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Stephenville Funeral Home. "Charlie Bear" was born in Fort Worth on August 8, 1926 to Marion Dewey Fuqua and Norma Lillian Gresham. The second of three sons, he graduated from Paschal High School and following World War II, attended TCU. His adolescent summers were spent in Grimes County on his Uncle Hunt's farm. He and his cousins spent days fishing, hunting and seining the Navasota River in an attempt to put meat on the table and earn a few extra dollars. Those experiences resulted in excellent stories Charlie loved to recite and perhaps embellish. From the proper procedure of removing an alligator or a gigantic gar from the net to the nuances of handling a 40 pound yellow cat, those summers were a special time to Charlie. Charlie worked with his brothers and father, "Pop", in the family grocery store on Cooper Street in Fort Worth, until going into the grocery business with his cousin Perry in the Riverside area. In 1962 he opened Fuqua's Super Market on Evans Avenue. Long hours, due diligence, honesty and integrity were traits Charlie exhibited and caused the business to flourish. He attempted to instill this work ethic in his three sons as each went to work sacking groceries on Saturdays as soon as they could peer over the counter. He retired in 1986 and moved to Stephenville. He traveled the United States and Canada, fishing as often as he could for the past 25 years. Charlie married Clairece Almeda Moore (Reesa) in 1948. Along with several remarkable families (you know who you are), they helped establish St. Luke Cumberland Presbyterian Church in south Fort Worth. Charlie served as a senior elder and loved to sing in the choir. SURVIVORS: Sons, Michael and wife Wendy; Steve and wife Cindy; Kirk and wife Lynn Dee Lewis; Grandsons, Ryon and wife Becca; Zachary and wife Jodi; and four beautiful great grandchildren.