Charles Ray McCann Jr. (Chuck) was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and lived most of his adult life in Westlake. He passed away after a long fight against brain cancer on Sunday, July 28, 2019 at his residence in Westlake surrounded by his loved ones.
Chuck graduated from LaGrange High School in 1993 and served for 7 years in the Army National Guard. At the age of 19, he met his future wife Charlotte at his sister's birthday party. Their first date was at her house playing "Jeopardy" on the computer. He was impressed with her quick wit-he had no idea that she had played so many times that she memorized the questions. After dating for 4 years, they were married on July 4, 1998. They recently celebrated their 21st Anniversary with champagne and fireworks.
They welcomed their first daughter, Raeley Danielle, in 2001 and their second, Lori Grace, in 2007. His girls were his world, and he loved being their daddy more than anything. He was always there to make them laugh after a rough day at school or to be a shoulder to cry on. He worked 12 hour-shifts, but no matter what happened at work, he was always willing to dedicate his time to his girls.
Chuck had a wonderful sense of humor and used it frequently to make all his friends and family laugh. He would do silly things in the grocery store, like yelling along the words to whatever song was on the radio in front of everyone or holding two leaves of aloe on the sides of his head like antennae. He would tell ghost stories in front of fires, with the level of fantasy increasing with his level of intoxication. He also had a love of music, which he passed down to his girls. For years, he would wake them up for their first days of school by playing, "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley.
Chuck enjoyed welding and restoring old cars and motorcycles. He would stay out in his garage for hours, listening to Pink Floyd or Metallica, working on his newest project. He loved nothing more than driving around on a warm day in a topless Jeep. His final project was helping his father-in-law restore a 1970 Mustang convertible.
Chuck worked as a plant operator for nearly 20 years-first at CertainTeed and then at Sasol. He was an extremely hard worker, even working while receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He took great pride in providing for his family.
Chuck was kind to everyone he came across but treated his friends as brothers. He would want to specifically thank Mike Sweeton, Gabe Cormier, and Jason Abshire for years of always having his back and cold beers and cigars at the ready when he needed it. He would also like to thank Corey McCann, who was more of a brother than a cousin to him. He would send a big hug and a wink to his nurse Anne Marie with Heart of Hospice.
He leaves behind the three loves of his life: his wife, Charlotte and his daughters, Raeley and Lori. He also leaves a large extended family; his two sisters, Elizabeth Hargett and Ashlee McCann; his parents, Larry and Mary Ellen Landry and his in-laws, Robert and Pam Robertson (known to his family as Pappy & Nanny); two grandmothers, Dolly McCann and Margie Chance; his niece, Emma Hargett and his nephew, Parker Hargett, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was greeted in heaven by his father, Charles Ray McCann, Sr.; along with several grandparents.
A Celebration of Chuck's Life will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 5:00pm at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will begin on Thursday prior to the service, beginning at 3:00pm until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, Chuck would like for you to make donations to Brennan's Blessings or Colors for a Cause. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
