After fighting a short but courageous battle with cancer and living a full 78 years, it is with great sadness that the family of Mr. Earl Charby has to announce his passing at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital on Jan. 25, 2008 at 11:55 p.m. with his daughter Sandi at his side. At Earl’s request there will be no funeral services and cremation has taken place, all arranged by Mitchell’s Funeral Home. On Tuesday, Jan. 29 a private memorial was held to celebrate Earl’s life at the family home.

Earl was an amazing father to Sandi, David, Kim and stepson John Sharpe. A wonderful grandpa to Tyler, Bubba and Sissy. A caring master to dogs Baby and Princess. A dedicated brother to many siblings.

Earl was predeceased by wife Brenda Charby (May 18, 2003), sister Shirley and brother George. Left to mourn are some very special friends and family in Earl’s life: Danny, Vera and Gil, Brian and Tammy, Lee and Jack, Tracy and Ian, Alice and John, Hazel, Ozzie, Pat and Wendal, Ernie, Ray, Linda and Rudy.

Born Jan. 26, 1929 in Knowlton, Quebec to parents William and Beatrice Charby. During his lifetime Earl has seen many places and done many things. Starting at an early age he worked for USCE in Labrador. After leaving the north country in 1954 he bought a yacht and travelled the east coast. Despite Hurricane Hazel he made it to Florida, where he hung his hat for a while. Earl was always a hard worker, owning his own business in Montreal and Tillsonburg for a number of years before moving to Huntsville on January 1, 1980 and becoming owner/operator of his own wood business until he retired in 1999.

After retirement Earl enjoyed travelling to Arizona, puttering in the garage, playing pool, and on Sundays could always be found watching Nascar and cheering on Mark Martin. His true love was gambling. He enjoyed the slot machines at Casino Rama and could sit and pick 649 and Super 7 numbers for hours on end. He enjoyed playing bingo and was the luckiest poker player in all of Huntsville.

In the last couple of years of his life he became an avid hockey watcher and enjoyed doing so with Danny. Dad could always be heard yelling from the living room: “Stay in your crease!”

Earl had a wonderful zest for life, the outdoors and a special way with animals. His free spirit, humorous, kind, gentle and easy-going personality made him the apple of a lot of people’s eye. He will be sadly missed and never forgotten. Until we meet again.