Beaver Island Michigan

Word has been received that Chuckie passed away last night. Chuckie was born on the island to Elmer Dudley and Vickie Connaghan. He spent his adult life in Missouri and returned to the island occasionally.

More information will be posted when it becomes available.

Chuckie was one of life's great unassuming characters! He could catch you in a prank and leave you wondering what happened. Great personality and a great love of his original home, Beaver Island. Shortly after I moved into the "Scheid House" (where we live today) I was sitting at the breakfast table on a Saturday morning and a white haired fella in glasses appeared outside the window toward Tim McDonough's. I watched him for a bit, unsure of who he was until he eventually looked up and saw me sitting in the window. He gestured and I opened the window, he said, "You're Jewell Ket's boy aren't ya?" I said, "Well yes, why"? He said, "No one else could be that ugly"! And, with that we became pretty good chums! Anyway, I asked what he was doing pawing in the ground like he was and he said he was looking for Indian and other artifacts and, just like that, produced parts of a clay pipe. He searched there for 1/2 his vacation I'm sure. At some point his mothers people lived in a house between Tim McD and I which burned down, they then moved into the house on the other side of Tims toward the point. From then on, whenever he came to the island he would seek me out and always had a great story or two to tell! I and anyone that knew him will miss him! Farewell Chuckie!

Chuckie was something of an icon in our house growing up.. don't even know if I ever met him, but when dad talked about Chuckie we listened. Chuckie stories always had dad waxing nostalgic.. There would be a far-away look, a twinkle in his eye and smirk on his face. My dad loved Chuckie, and I believed that Chuckie loved my dad. Good Friends till the end.. I'd like to think they are together again.. racing through heaven!
If anyone sees Johnny Paul Kenwabikise you might want to ask him.. Johnny Paul was ALWAYS part of those stories, and funny they are!

I never really knew Chuckie until he married my Aunt Barb (she had some rocky marriages, but with him the last 6 months of her life were pure happiness), so I grew to love him after he decided to give my mom an impromptu concert on my mom's porch with Edward Palmer knowing that my mom was unable to go anywhere to hear this wonderful music. He even let me sing with him a few times. He was also a wonderful songwriter that wrote from his heart and soul. I am sure that my aunt is glad to see him again!!

When Chuckie left Beaver Island and would come back for visits in the summer time my dad (Jewell) would always go to the dock to see him off when he was leaving. Times being tough dad would always slip a little money into Chuckies shirt pocket and say "Everyone needs a little traveling money." So when my dad passed away a few years back the morning of the funeral Chuckie went up to the casket and put something in my dads pocket. One of my brothers said "What are you doing Chuckie?" and He said "Everyone needs a little traveling money!!" Just a cute little story I thought I would share. Travel well Chuckie you will be missed..

I remember Chuckie sharing the "Everybody needs a little traveling money" story at my mom & dad's house (Archie & Frances) after Jewell's funeral. I got the impression that he would've hitch-hiked from Kansas if he had to in order for him repay that kind deed.
God love ya Chuckie.