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Charles Shadowens’ “Celebration of Life” service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The pastor, Brother Paul, will be bringing the message followed by an “open mic” time where relatives and friends will have the opportunity to tell about shared times with Charles. Afterwards, lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall. A detailed obituary will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Any donations can be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 3732 NE Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches, TX 75965.
Charles's love of God, church, music, sports, citizenship was a thread that connected all parts of his life. He entered the world on July 25, 1941, in Carthage, Texas. He dedicated his life to God as a teen and was baptized at the Methodist church. He had already decided to have a career as a band director. After receiving a music scholarship in 1959 he began his life at SFA where he met his wife, Carolyn Parmley, in Acapella Choir. Charles played both the trumpet and the tuba depending on which instrument was needed at the time and marched with the SFA band.
Later he decided he should take business courses to make a living in this competitive world. After finding employment with Transwestern Pipeline in Kermit in West Texas, he returned to Nacogdoches on June 29th,1963 to be married to Carolyn at Fredonia Hill Baptist Church. In Kermit, he held various offices in the Lion's Club, volunteer Fire Department, football boosters club. He was elected for two terms as City Councilman which allowed, he and Carolyn to travel across Texas to conventions in many places. Charles loved helping others in his community and worked hard to improve the city of Kermit. He was the featured speaker at many of the various clubs. For several years, he was the catcher for the local baseball team and was the football referee for the regional team.
Continuing their shared love of music, he and Carolyn began the non-denominational group sponsored by First United Methodist Church called Christian Youth Singers consisting of forty 9th -12th graders. They toured in New Mexico and Texas performing the contemporary musical Purpose with Charles as the director and Carolyn as pianist. Frequently Charles also led the adult choir at church accompanied by Carolyn. They were also youth directors at church and held additional prayer meetings and Bible study weekly at their home.
Their youth group became their "adopted" kids for 10 years. Finally, after many prayers and doctor visits, Charles Brian was born on April 3, 1973, to very happy and proud parents. Carolyn, who had been teaching at Purple Sage Elementary School, took a leave to be a full-time mother. By this time, Charles had been promoted to Environmental Analyst. On February 20th, 1976, God blessed them with a daughter, Angela.
In 1982, Charles was selected to head the environmental office of Texas Eastern located at Houston One Center. The family packed their bags and headed for their new home in Spring, Texas. They joined Klein United Methodist Church there and they actively participated in choir and Bible study classes. Carolyn returned to teaching as by this time, the children were enrolled in school.
In his spare time, Charles was an avid football fan, especially enjoying the UT Longhorns and the
Dallas Cowboys. He also coached Brian's team. The family attended many baseball and football games together.
Charles semi-retired from Texas Eastern position but continued to work as a consultant. He was hired to head the cleanup in Massachusetts which took him away from home for over a year. Brian joined him for the summer for some good experience in the field. After this very difficult job, Charles decided to completely retire and return to Nacogdoches. They bought a pickup and a fifth wheel to live in while their new home was being built.
After living in a fifth wheel, parked beside Carolyn's family home, their new home at 5575 FM 1638 was completed in April 2008 and they happily moved in to begin the second half of their lives. By this time, their children were grown, and they were blessed with grands. John Deeter was born on April 25th, 1996; Shelby Russell, born on August 1, 2002; Charles Emory Shadowens, June 5,2004. They joined Fredonia Hill Baptist and continued to sing in choir and participate in church Bible studies and other activities until his hearing and health started failing. For several reasons, they moved their membership to Calvary Baptist Church where they continued to learn and be enlightened by Brother Paul's teaching sermons and good humor. Charles enjoyed cooking briskets, and hamburgers at the church on his own mobile barbecue pit for several events.
After the position was vacated, Charles was asked to join the water department of Lily Grove. He studied and received his license in that area of expertise. After several years and many friends later, he decided to give his full time to ranching with his longhorn and angus cattle and gardening with vegetables and flowers.
Charles loved his family and enjoyed sharing time with them. They shared trips, hunting, fishing, and especially when it was on the ranch. He was so happy when his sister, Janice Thornton, and brother-in-law, Edward, moved from West Texas to move into Carolyn's family home to retire and move closer to him. Later Angela and her husband, Josh Pool, moved into their home on a hill behind the ranch. Their small family was finally living in close proximity, except for Brian, and his wife, Jaime, who live in Denton, TX. but visited as much as possible. He was so proud of his children. Brian had gone into the field of assisted living but used his musical talent and training to sing solos, duets at church, and other organizations. Carolyn and he attended many operas in which Brian had the featured role. Because of her caring nature, Angela had considered being a nurse and had received some training but decided to continue with accounting courses instead. She began working as an accountant at several businesses in Magnolia where she lived for a while.
Charles's spirit left this earth to be with his Heavenly Father on May 18th, 2021. His spleen ruptured when he fell on concrete while working in the yard that he tried to keep even though he was not physically able. At his previous request, his ashes were scattered in a private family ceremony on a hill on the ranch he loved so much.
Other than the family members previously mentioned, Charles leaves a very special niece, Tiffany Thompson, and her children, Austin, and Karlee as well as many cousins and a special aunt, Ann Shadowens. Meeting him in Heaven are his parents, Esther W., and Emory Charles Shadowens; grandparents, Sidney F. and Ludie Roe, Cornelius Jack, and Betty Shadowens.
Calvary Baptist Church
3732 NE Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches TX 75965
Tel: 1-936-564-4539
Web: https://calvarynac.church/