Mr. Charles N. Severance, 87, of Yulee, passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 5, 2017, at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.
Born in Brunswick, Ga., he was the son of the late Newitt Oscar and Ruth Eighmey Severance. At an early age, he and his family moved to Jacksonville, where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, Class of 1947. Early in life, he formed his mentality of hard work by spending his summers as a teenager working on a cattle ranch as well as on his father’s river barge on the Mississippi River.
Mr. Severance helped build the original Nassau Sound Bridge, which today is a preserved and coveted fishing spot for many local fishermen. In 1948, he married Suwannee County native Gladys Touchton.
As Mr. Severance’s family and level of responsibility grew, he felt the need for stability for his family, and he joined U.S. Gypsum on Talleyrand Avenue in Jacksonville. During his next 41 years with U.S. Gypsum, he worked in various positions, refining the formulas and processes at the Redi Mix plant until retiring in 1992 as plant superintendent. As a parent and member of the Yulee community, he served as a volunteer fireman and EMT, served as president of the Yulee Little League Association, was a first aid instructor for the American Red Cross, was a member of the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary, the Yulee Lions Club and was selected as the Yulee Citizen of the Year in 1969.
Mr. Severance enjoyed radio controlled airplanes and was a member of the RC Flyers. He earned his private fixed-wing aircraft license at the age of 70.
He was a man who put the needs of his family first. They recall his favorite sayings: “Enjoy life – you only make the journey once,” and, when things weren’t getting done in what he felt was the proper timing, “chop chop.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Charles Ray, who passed away at birth in 1956; his daughter, Ruthie Jones, who passed away in 2011; and his wife of 30 years and best friend for 65 years, Gladys Touchton Severance, who passed away in 2009.
Mr. Severance leaves behind his brother, Robert Severance, retired U.S. Army command sergeant major, of Yulee; his daughter, Martha Christiansen and her husband, Frank, of Fayetteville, N.C.; grandchildren, Charlene Vandiver and her husband, Clayton, of Jacksonville, and Brett Christiansen and his wife, Kristie, of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren, Alex Vandiver, Clay Vandiver III, Daniel Vandiver and Kenadie Christiansen; several nieces and nephews who loved him dearly; as well as his friend and the greatest neighbor ever, Patsy Willis.
His family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Dr. Gil Cu as well as to the caring staff of Community Hospice’s Warner Center.
His family will receive friends on Saturday, April 15, from 2-5 p.m. at Oxley-Heard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a local charity of choice or the life-saving donation of blood by those who are able.
Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors