Charles "Charlie" C. Blaylock

Charlie was a 1968 graduate of Lakeside, who played football, ran track and played basketball during his school years.

After graduation, Charlie joined the U.S Navy. His training in Kodiac, Alaska, led to his service on the aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk. Charlie was also lucky enough to serve for a time with his brother, James, on the USS Juneau.

Charlie returned to Hot Springs after his service. He worked for Stanage Electric for some time and for Alliance Rubber for several years. It was, however, his dream job at the National Park Service, from which he retired after more than 25 years.

A camping enthusiast, Charlie was generally up by 4:30am and asleep by 6pm. He loved hiking and Jeeping through wooded trails and muddy creeks. Spelunking was also a favorite until, as Charlie put it, the cave entrances seemed to shrink.

After retiring, Charlie never stopped going and usually he was going on his Harley. He visited many State and National Parks throughout the United States. Charlie made the trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally four times. In 2019, on route to the Rolling Thunder event in Washington D.C., Charlie and his brother-in law, Ralph, rode the “Dragon’s Tail” through the Smokey Mountains, a stretch of 11 miles with over 318 turns. Attending Roller Thunder was an honor to Charlie.

Charlie will be missed by all who knew him, but especially by his brother, James Blaylock (Sandy); sisters Liz Forbes (Ralph) and Reberta Rhiddlehoover (David); nephews Jeff Hathcock, David Stauder, Robert Orenbaun, and James Stevens; nieces Stacy Alcazar and Tammy Morehead; many cousins stretched across the country; and more friends than anyone can count.

Honorary Pallbearers:

Mike Langhorne

Velton Lacy

Val Reece

Steve Batterton

Roger Tankersly

A Celebration of Charlie’s Life will be 10 am, May 1, 2021 at Gross Funeral Home.

Charlie will be laid to rest at the Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery In North Little Rock, Arkansas at 1pm May 3, 2021