Charles "Charlie" Finley

Charlie was born November 30, 1948 in Owensboro, KY to Charles Richard Finley and Treva Shackelford Finley. In 1967, upon graduation from Oakhaven High School in Memphis, Charlie was drafted into the U.S. Army, honorably serving as a Military Policeman E-4 in Saigon, Vietnam with the RA-MP Corps. It was during his service in Vietnam that Charlie met his wife of 52 years, Rose Nguyen Finley.

Charlie worked for The International Harvester Company for 11 years, and then later owned Central Liquors where he enjoyed the relationships he developed with his many customers. In his spare time, Charlie enjoyed fishing, but his most cherished moments were those being devoted grandfather “Pop-Po” to grandsons Hayden and Jackson.

In addition to his parents, Charlie was predeceased by his brother, Ronnie Finley.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Rose, son Chris Finley of Lakeland, daughter, Sharon Gowen of Memphis, grandsons Hayden Gowen and Jackson Gowen, sister Gwen Carey of Atoka, brother Larry Finley of Atoka, aunt Beulah Shackelford of Memphis, many beloved nieces and nephews, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Visitation will be Friday, May 28, from 5pm to 7pm at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 29 at 10:00 am at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue. Burial will be at the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Road, at a date yet undetermined.

The family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.