Charley Pierre Abshire

Charley Pierre Abshire, 79, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 after a brief illness at a local hospital. Charley was born on December 24, 1937, in Crowley, LA to Theo and Effie Abshire.

Charley graduated from high school and joined the Marine Corps. After leaving the Marine Corps, he worked for Western-Union, delivering telegrams on a bicycle. While working there, he met and married the love of his life, Joyce. They were married for 57 years.

Charley was an incredibly talented man who could “fix anything except a broken heart.” If anyone needed anything fixed, an errand run, mail delivered or anything else, Charley was the man for the job.

Charley worked for several oil field service companies and became a marine engineer and an officer in the merchant marine. He worked for Tidewater Marine for over 40 years. As a result, he had the opportunity to travel around the world. Everywhere he lived, he made himself aware of the local culture and got to know the everyday people. He became known as “Papa Charley” to his many friends. He even repaired and maintained a local tribal chief’s many Rolls-Royces while living in Nigeria.

Charley was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce, his daughter, Velma Matte and his sister, Goldy Mae Abshire.

Those left to cherish his memory are: his son, Michael (Carol) Abshire of Houston, TX; his daughters; Natalie (Mike)Wall of Lake Charles, Deborah (Clif) Andrus of Bee Branch, AR, Carla Hunt (Mark Tanet), of Houston, TX, and Joy (Orlanzo) Etkins of Shreveport, LA. Charley also left his sister, Shelby and three brothers, Maison, Forest and Harvey. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and his favorite canine companion, “Fuzzy Dog.”

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 PM Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Home chapel with Msgn Jace Eskind officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 24, from 5-9 PM with a Rosary at 6:30 PM, and on Saturday from 9 AM until the time of services. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery.