Charles Havis Dawson of Enterprise passed away on Friday, June 17, 2011 after a brief illness of cancer. He was 76 years old. Charles was born in his beloved Mobile on March 9, 1935. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1952 and from Auburn University (then API) in 1956. He became a member of Alpha Tau Omega where he made life long brothers. It was at Auburn that he met his precious Nancy who would become his "love darling" of 55 years. Their family was started in Andalusia where Charlie worked as an Industrial Engineer in the garment industry. This work took them to Enterprise in 1963 where he became the plant manager of Alatex Indust-ries. As this industry moved offshore, Charlie began a 20 year career with Lennox Industry as a Territory Manager. As a "retired man" he drove for Enterprise Rent A Car for several years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and the Enterprise Country Club. For more than 50 years, Charlie was a member of the Episcopal Church of Epiphany where he served on the Vestry board and taught Sunday school. In Andalusia and Enterprise he worked as a Boy Scout Leader. His greatest pleasure was being a father to his two children. As children both under 5, he would gather them up for breakfast out on Saturday mornings. When they got to be teenagers, he bought two Honda 350's to ride on trips together and as a family of 4, off they would go on and adventure. His daughter (whose hair he washed as a child) needed him always. But he loved his Nancy most of all, a love that started young in life and lasted until his last day. When the children got grown and it was just the two of them again, he bought a sail boat to enjoy. They could be found relaxing in Mary Ester, Florida. In his life he was the instigator of many happy gatherings of his friends whom he loved. His life was full of jokes to go around, golf to be played, dominoes to shake, and an occasional glass of bourbon. Charlie was an avid blood donor having donated 51 pints of blood to the American Red Cross. In keeping with this tradition, his body will be donated to Anatomy Gifts Registry of Maryland. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Riley Dawson of Mobile. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy Coleman Dawson of Enterprise; a son, Michael Havis (Liza) of Glen Ridge New Jersey; a daughter, Amy Seanor (Terry) of Montgomery; one sister, Charlotte Moody (David) of Mobile; one brother, Riley Dawson (Diana) of Kennesaw, Georgia; three grand-children, Charlie and Rebecca Dawson of Glen Ridge, New Jersey; Anna Claire Seanor of Montgomery. The family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Brown and Dr. Jarrod Adkison and his team of angels. We could not have done without the Wiregrass Hospice group. The love of our friends has over-whelmed us. Many, many thanks. A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 2:00 P.M., at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Enterprise. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial dona-tions made to Church of the Epiphany-Capital Fund, 302 East Grubbs Street, Enterprise, Alabama 36330 or to the Wiregrass Hospice, Post Office Box 1708, Enterprise, Alabama 36106. You may sign the register book or send condolences to the family at our website: searcyfuneralhome.com
Published in the Press-Register from June 18 to June 19, 2011