Charles Meek,Iii

Charles C. Meek, III passed away 22 December 2012 after contracting pneumonia. Better known as “Chassie” to family, he was born November 4th, 1935 to Helen and Charles Meek and was severely developmentally disabled from birth. He was both blind and mute but could hear well and listening to music was one of his real pleasures. His caretakers always assured his radio was tuned to a soft rock or a country and western station and he listened throughout the day while rocking in an overstuffed chair.

Charles remained at home in Springfield until age five or six at which time his needs were such that his parents could not meet them and he was placed in a school for the developmentally disabled in St. Louis, and over the years resided in several different residential facilities in that area. Though Helen and Charles were told by the pediatricians that he would not survive beyond early adolescence, he lived to age 77, and until the three to four years preceding his death, remained ambulatory and in excellent health. This was, no doubt, due in part to the excellent care he received from the staff at Warrenton Manor in Warrenton, Missouri where he resided for the last thirty five years of his life, and to the personnel from Preferred Hospice of Missouri who attended lovingly to him for the last year and a half. Known by the staff as “Charlie”, he responded readily to them and seemed to have developed a very affectionate bond to those that remained at the facility for longer periods of time. In addition to listening to the radio he very much enjoyed meals. His overdeveloped sense of smell always alerted him to meal time long before the nursing staff was aware it was time to eat. He in turn alerted staff that it was time for transport to the dining room.

Unencumbered by the complexities and tribulations of modern life, Chassie led a simple life throughout which he was both comforted and administered to by caretakers who understood his needs and assured that they were met in a timely and caring way. He is survived by three brothers, Bill and Mike of Sacramento, California, and Terry of Springfield, Missouri. He is also survived two cousins, Chaney (O’Brien) Yarnell of Irving Texas, and John Wikoff of Springfield, Missouri. Services will be private and held at St. Agnes Cathedral on January 3rd 2013.