Charley Bevard Hargrave

Charley Bevard Hargrave
Charley Bevard Hargrave

Charley Bevard Hargrave, 93, passed away on March 6, 2021. Beloved husband, father, teacher, friend and mentor, he was born September 9, 1927, in Amarillo where he lived most of his life. He was a loving and committed husband and is survived by his wife of 72 years, Janice Lola Hargrave.  

He was a dedicated family man and caring father and survived by three sons and their wives, Charley and Tanya Hargrave of Denton, Texas, Gary and Paula Hargrave of Houston, Texas, and Terry and Sharon Hargrave of Pasadena, California. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Patricia Carol Painter.  

He was a proud veteran of the Army Air Corps in WWII and served in Europe as a cryptographer through the Berlin Airlift in 1948. He also served in Greenland during the Korean War. He was a graduate of West Texas University and taught Chemistry at Amarillo High School from 1965 until his retirement. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and an active mission worker in Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Belarus and Russia. After retirement from teaching, he was a mentor and tutor to hundreds of students and was a tremendous encouragement to many in their education, careers, families and spiritual journeys. Always a sports fan of Amarillo High School, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the school’s volleyball, basketball, softball and football teams.  

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo at 10:00 A.M. on March 20, 2021. The family requests that any gifts or memorials go to missions organizations of the contributor’s choice.

20 Replies to “Charley Bevard Hargrave”

  1. My sincere condolences to the family and friends. Mr. Hargrave was one of my teachers in high school and was influencial in my life. He helped me come out of my shell through encouragement and assigned jobs. He had the heart of a teacher. He gave students enough space to learn and was ever watchful of progress. During one chemistry lab, a fellow student decided to boil mercury in a crucible. Mr. Hargrave caught it almost immediately and said, “What are you trying to do? Kill us all?!!” He saved the whole class from mercury poisoning. He also taught students more than chemistry. Once, while on a school trip, he grabbed a bag of candy I just bought and proceeded to open it and pass it out to fellow students. As he did so, he gauged my reaction. My reaction proved that I needed that lesson in generosity. Thank you, Mr. Hargrave. You are missed.

  2. I am so sorry to learn of Charley’s death. Charley was my mentor and wonderful friend from the first day of my teaching career. I loved him like a father. The world is a sadder place without him in it but I’m excited for Charley to be in heaven with his Savior.

  3. Charlie and Janice have been great neighbors for many years! It was wonderful to see the beautiful vines and flowers they planted along the alley; not somewhere you’d expect to see beauty. We will certainly miss you, Charlie!!

  4. Charley, it seems to me, lived a principled life sculpted around the Bible, his family and extended to those of us fortunate enough to have spent time with him. He was my mother’s youngest brother and she fittingly held him up as an example for me. Like all of the rest of you, I will miss him.

  5. Our family loved this giant of a man. He was always curious. He has so many interests. We first met Charlie when we joined Westminster Presbyterian Church. He always had a smile on his face. He and Cameron had a unique and rewarding relationship. He loved his God given talent of teaching. We are all better people because of Charlie! You will be missed.

  6. You dear sweet man. It was my honor and privilege to see ur smiling face every day from Sept-Jan. I am going to miss talking to you about football so very much! Your courage and perseverance facing day to day challenges, not once complaining, were truly an inspiration to me. I will miss our talks about ur commitment to family, your faith, and all the stories you shared with me about your military service, students you taught, countries you visited, and how many people inspired you over the years. I will miss you Charley, so very much!

  7. What a joy our family felt when Charley and Jan’s family rolled into the Canyon (CO) to visit! Their family felt an extension of our own, we kids overlapping in ages so closely. Rich stories of our folks’ shared experiences on that land filled our evenings after a full day working one project or another. Laughter and eye-twinkling through happy tears abounded!
    The tie to the Canyon continued to bring Charley and Jan back to us, especially in the 27 years our folks have been gone. Such a blessing to help fill our void, the two of them embracing our children as their own grandchildren. My kids feel his loss as poignantly as do I.
    Rest In Peace, dear Uncle Charley!

  8. Charley was such an inspiring man who loved the Lord and loved sharing that love with others. I didn’t realize when I was at AHS that, decades later, he would be our Sunday morning usher at the 8:30 service and his “lollipop mission” would create a wonderful friendship between he and our two boys. They will always remember his great game of putt putt golf at the church family retreat. He was a faithful servant to the Lord and a gracious friend to all.

  9. Men’s Prayer breakfast at FPC Charley always early to visit also men’s bible study on Tuesday. Missed him this this past year as well as many others.

  10. Charley and his wife Jan were inspirational to me when I was in college. They took me into their home as a boarder while I attended Amarillo College. They became for me, a first generation college student, role models of educated professionals. When I needed a truck to transport my belongings to university in San Antonio, Charley generously loaned me his. Charley and Jan have remained my lifelong friends.

  11. Oh, how I love Charley! He was such a tender hearted man with a HUGE love for people in need, especially children. I will forever miss my “Charley hugs”! Nobody could hug you so sweetly as Charley! And I will never eat another Tootsie Roll Pop without thinking of sweet Charley! He always handed them out, saying how Jesus’s love for me was sweeter than that Tootsie Pop! I asked him once how many Tootsie Pops he handed out, and he said around 1,000 per month!! How he touched lives with those suckers and his genuine smile! I never left a conversation with Charley without feeling better in spirit and heart. Prayers and love to all of his family…..he was so proud of all of you and never missed a chance to tell everyone what each of you were doing. His eyes would light up and he would grin from ear to ear as he spoke of each of you. Charley was love in action. I will miss him deeply. He was my dear friend. ❤

  12. Charlie taught at AHS during the 6 years that I served there as teacher, coach and administrator. He was the ultimate professional and a great ambassador for AHS, the teaching profession and for Christ. His life’s record speaks for itself. We should all strive to be like Charlie.

  13. Charlie is one of three teachers for me becoming a teacher but even more than that, becoming a compassionate and caring teacher that allowed laughter and humor to be part of the learning process. I was jealous of Deanie, getting to teach with him at Amarillo High. Job well done, Mr. Hargraves, job well done. Love always, Darla

  14. Even after leaving FPC in 2004 and working since then at Polk Street UMC, I managed to keep in contact with Charley almost every week during Sunday School hours there. I would see him in the hallways and he would smile and the conversations would begin – how I was doing, his travels (especially China), my kids in TX, VA and CA, etc. He placed a lot of wonderful devotional booklets in my hands over the years. A totally positive and affirmative influence on my life; I considered him like a second father to me. I regret not seeing him this past year, but the memories will live on. Rest in peace, my friend.

  15. Amarillo has lost a genuine jewel. Darla and I had Mr. Hargrave for chemistry in 1968. He was patient with us both. I became ill that year, and he let Darla out of class to call to check up on me. He would go to the hospital after school to sit with me so that Mom could have a break. I also had the good fortune to teach with him in the 80s and 90s. He was exactly the same as he was when I had him in school. I saw him for the last time in 2017 at Darla’s retirement party from Holy Cross. I loved the both of them and grieve for him with Janice and his family. Charley, God bless you!

  16. Mr Hargrave was one of my favorite teachers! He was so smart, funny and an inspiration! God bless his family may he Rest In Peace 🙏🏼

  17. Oh my! We loved Mr Hargrave. What a kind and generous man! My family and I are better because of Mr Hargrave and his wonderful wife. Prayers and love to the family.
    Steve and Terri Stavenhagen

  18. My condolences to Janice and family. I taught with Charley at Amarillo High School from1974-1984. Charley was a supportive and encouraging mentor always willing to help with wise council. He was a talented photographer who took wonderful portraits of our daughter. He was a kind gentleman!

  19. On my real short list of favorite teachers.
    I still know more about the periodic table than my grown children. Also a great friend to my mom & dad (Basil & Hylasue Walker). Praying for peace for the family.

  20. What a great loss to the world and all that knew Charlie. Charlie and I became friends in Sue Ducketts music class and had a great time learning and laughing. I send my sincere sympathy to the family and Jan. May he rest in peace.
    With deepest sympathy,
    Larry Wolff

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