Charles Ray Hood

Charles moved to Oklahoma where he attended Elgin schools. Charles graduated Elgin High School in 1946. He joined the Army in 1948 and served in Germany. He learned diesel mechanics and drove dozers while in the service. He was honorably discharged in 1952.

A man of many adventures throughout his life; he enjoyed skeet shooting competitions in Texas. He was a Texas State Champion more than once. He looked forward to his annual pheasant hunting and fishing trips in Kansas. He even tried race car driving in Florida. He loved to try new things.

He owned his own business moving mobile homes for many of his younger years. Later in life he worked as a diesel mechanic. He lived the last 29 years of his life in Athens, Texas where he worked as a driver and mechanic. He enjoyed growing vegetables in his two-acre garden.

Charles is survived by one sister, Mary Lou and husband Gene Bratyler; 5 daughters: Vickie Matchen and husband Thomas, Shelia Hannan and husband Sam, Becky Harris and husband Don, Sandra York, and Dianne Hood and husband Marc Lundberg; step-daughters, Faye Chapmon and Verla Holub; Don Harris, who was more like a son than a son-in-law; 13 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Essie; brother, Jim Hood; sister, Dorothy Myers; son, Bobby Ray; nephews: George, Joseph, and Timothy Nevills; niece, Cynthia Oakley; and wives, Emma Hood, Clara Hood, and Helen Hood.