Charles E. "Charlie" Mcavoy

Charles E. McAvoy “Charlie” age 81, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Three Rivers Medical Center.

Charlie was born May 4, 1934 in Washington, Iowa to Charles & Edith (Gallup) McAvoy. He graduated from Lake Elsinore High School in California where he was class president for all four years. After graduation while living in Temecula, California he worked as an auto mechanic. On April 5, 1957 in San Francisco he married Gloria Bernard.

After getting married, he continued his passion for working with his hands by getting a job as an airline mechanic for United Airlines and working on race cars for his brothers-in-law. As his family grew he decided he wanted an office job, so for the next 40- plus years in the San Francisco bay area he worked in the hotel and restaurant supply business, while the name may have changed it was pretty much the same company, Dorman's Supply, then M.L. Chaban which finally became S.E. Rykoff. In 1997 he retired and moved from Pacifica, California to Cave Junction, Oregon.

His hobbies included oil painting and woodworking. He never lost the desire to work on cars teaching and helping his kids with auto mechanics – he was very good at working with his hands. His love of animals and gardening is what brought him to Cave Junction, Oregon where he and Gloria purchased what they proudly named 'Lazy Acres', there they raised all types of animals as pets. After 16 years Charlie and Gloria settled in Grants Pass, Oregon

While raising his family and living in Pacifica he volunteered with the Lions Club installing car seats for children. He loved his wife very much.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria McAvoy of Grants Pass, Oregon; three sons, Michael McAvoy of Westminster, Colorado, Steven McAvoy of Cave Junction, Oregon, and Curtis McAvoy of Greenbrier, Tennessee; a daughter, Sheri Lewis of Half Moon Bay, California; a brother, Richard McAvoy of Indio, California; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four siblings, John, Phyllis, Mary, and Rosie.

No services are planned. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to any Alzheimer’s Association.