Charley E. Bennett

Charley E. Bennett, son of the late Marve and Francis (Ford) Bennett, was born on May 12, 1916 in Macomb, Missouri, and departed this life on December 20, 2011 in the Rocky Ridge Manor in Mansfield, Missouri, following a short illness. He was 95 years, 7 months and 8 days of age.

Charley grew up in Wright County and attended the Spence School near Macomb. Charley worked as a hired hand on farms in Iowa during the early 1940’s. He was united in marriage to Bessie Violet Weilbrenner on August 21, 1940 in Bloomfield, Iowa. Five children were born to this union. They moved back to Missouri in 1946 to make their home.

Following his return to Missouri, Charley went to work for Kraft Foods. He retired in 1976 after working for them for thirty years without ever missing a day or being late for work.

Charley enjoyed teasing, politics, horse back riding, squirrel hunting and fishing.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Charley enjoyed attending the Mansfield Assembly of God Church and the Norwood Assembly of God Church before his health started failing.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Bessie V. Bennett on July 7, 2010; a daughter: Shirley Ann Range; three brothers: Maney Bennett, Jess Bennett, and William Bennett; two sisters: Betty Lee and Pauline Gray; and by two grandchildren: Eugene Jr.., and Eddie.

He is survived by two sons: Charles Eugene Bennett and his wife, Joyce, of Macomb, Missouri, and Phillip D. Bennett and his wife, Janice, of Mansfield, Missouri; two daughters: Judy Pauline Caldwell and her husband, J.C., of Mtn. Grove, and Janet Charlene Turney and her husband, Doug, of Mansfield, Missouri; one sister: Ruth Raney of Mansfield, Missouri; nine grandchildren: Brenda, Cindy, Violet, Kent, Ken, Len, Rebecca, Douglas, and Jason; fourteen great-grandchildren: Kayla D., Grant, Tyler W., Paul, Jaime, Jasmine, Nikki, Cory, Haley, Jade, Whitney, Tyler F., Kayla B., and Adam; thirteen great-great-grandchildren: Ethan, Kaytlynn, Noah, Jaxson, Taylor, Luke, Alyssa, Kendall, Rowen, Braylee, Elayna, Brystol, and Sawyer; and other relatives and friends.