Charles E. Hargraves, Jr.

Charles Edward (Charlie or “Zero”) Hargraves, Jr., of Groesbeck, passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at the Groesbeck LTC, at age 90. Visitation will be Friday, June 28, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Pavilion at Faulkenberry Cemetery, with Rev. Daryl Hatley officiating. Charles was born December 19, 1922 to Charles Edward Hargraves, Sr. and Dora (Anderson) Hargraves at Beaumont, where he grew up and attended school. His life-long love and talent for golf was formed while he was growing up. The family’s garden was beside a golf course fairway, and he worked as a caddy and learned the game from the adult golfers. After he was out of school, he travelled and worked his way around the country. He worked on a tug boat as an apprentice until he became the captain, steaming up and down the Mississippi River from Ohio to Louisiana. After retiring from that work, and while raising his family of three children, they lived in Texas City where he ran a shrimp boat. When he was in his sixties, Charles changed careers, by attending Texas A&M and becoming a certified greens-keeper. He then worked many years as superintendent of golf courses at country clubs in Troup and San Augustine, Texas. At least forty years ago, he qualified and played in the Byron-Nelson golf tournament. He earned the nickname “Zero” from shooting a “hole-in-one” two weeks apart, and at least five times in his golfing life. Around 1980, at an age when most people would have been retired, Charles moved to Groesbeck where his children lived, and resumed active work driving a maintainer for Limestone County for another ten years. He was caretaker and in charge of Faulkenberry Cemetery for at least ten years, and also he and his wife Neva took care of quite a few yards and businesses in Groesbeck. They were seen daily at a booth in S&H where they took a break from work to have coffee and “scratch-off” their lottery tickets. “Zero” was a man of great stamina, and continued to love golf all his life. In Groesbeck, he was a part of the golfing community, sharing his knowledge and teaching his skills to his friends. He travelled all over Texas to play at Waco, Dallas, Austin, and many other courses with his golf buddies, Dennis Wilson, R.T. Beck, David Moore, Marcus Hanna, Don Koenig, and George Bozeman. Charles was a man who didn’t believe in arguments and being mad. He was well-known and appreciated for his wide smile and he was always happy and upbeat. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Groesbeck. He was always interested in his community, running for mayor of Groesbeck this past year. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Neva; and his two sisters, Alice and Ida Hargraves. Charles always had a home, holidays or any other time, with dear friends, Michael and Kathy Lewis of Groesbeck, so they were like his own children. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lynn and Santuza Hargraves of Brazil; daughter, Alice Annette Hargraves of Groesbeck and Thornton; daughter, Dora Graham of Hillsboro, Ohio; son, Wiley Edward Hargraves of Las Vegas, Nevada; and sons, Gary Hargraves, Adam Hargraves, and Kelly Hargraves of Waco. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Justin Hargraves and wife Katie of Baytown, Robert Perkin of Bryan-College Station, Samantha Ellison and husband A.J. of Shelbyville, IN, Jimmy Speer, Jr. of Groesbeck, Michael Ray Lewis of West, and David Lewis and wife April and children, Tyler and Mabrey of Groesbeck; and a great grandson, Logan Lynn Hargraves; his brother and sister-in-law, Ike and Betty Hargraves of Conroe; and several nieces and nephews.