Charles Raymond Sutherland

1983 - 2018

Charles Raymond Sutherland

Pierpont Beach, CA

Charles Raymond Sutherland died of a heroin overdose on Feb. 22, 2018 in the City of Ventura, CA. He was 35.

Known variously by friends and family as Char, Charlie, Chaz, Chuck, Buck and Bucknutty, he was enormously popular and had many longtime friends in Ventura.

He was born on Feb. 8, 1983 at University Hospital in San Diego, CA. In San Diego County, he attended Greg Rogers School in Chula Vista, Spring Valley Elementary School, and Spring Valley Middle School. He moved to Ventura the summer before starting ninth grade at Ventura High School.

He lived in Pierpont Beach and loved it there.

Charlie was a skilled carpenter and had also worked as a heavy equipment operator.

Time spent with his son was what he cherished most.

He was a talented musician and enjoyed a wide range of music. He also liked cooking, reading and writing, drawing, fishing, sports, especially boxing, electronic games, the special camaraderie of hanging out with friends, and the occasional impractical joke. He was a gifted artist and was known to have a light hand as a tattooist.

He was a real wit, funny, irreverent, curious, engaging, stylish, charismatic, hardworking and hard playing.

Chuck would help anybody in need or give you a new leather coat literally off his back; stories abound of his generous spirit and magnanimity.

He will be greatly missed, long remembered, and surely toasted on St. Patrick's Day.

A private family service was held overlooking San Buenaventura, CA, on March 8, 2018. It was a beautiful day, sunny and clear, with a grand view of the coastline.

Charlie's ashes were buried at sea immediately following the service, which featured ukulele and acoustic guitar music.

Survivors include: his mother and stepfather, Billie Faye (nee McSwain) and Howard Owens, of Batavia, NY; his father, Joseph "Joe" Sutherland, of Costa Rica and Yuma, AZ; brother, Jacob (and Sasha) Sutherland, of El Cajon, CA; his 9-year-old son, Charlie Jay Sutherland, of Carmel Valley, CA; his maternal grandmother, Barbara France (and Art) (nee Carter), of Clairemont, CA; his paternal grandfather, Charles E. Sutherland (and Kathleen), of El Cajon, CA; his paternal grandmother, Jo Ann Anderson, of Rancho San Diego, CA; his paternal aunt, Julie Ann Sutherland, of Rancho San Diego, CA; his paternal uncles, Charles Anthony "Tony" Sutherland, of Taos, NM, Michael "Mike" Sutherland, of Crest, CA, and Mark, of San Diego, CA; two nephews, Elijah and Isaiah Sutherland, of El Cajon, CA; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by a paternal uncle, Matthew "Matt" Sutherland, in 2006. Tatum Eileen Varela, of Carmel Valley, CA, regards him as her beloved stepfather.

In honor of Charlie's memory, donations are suggested to nonprofit organizations benefiting animals. He loved nature and the animals in it and he saved them when he could on more than one occasion.

Wildlife Care of Ventura:

http://wildlifecareofventura.org

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute:

http://cimwi.org

Greyfoot Rescue & Sanctuary for cats in Ventura:

http://greyfootcat.rescuegroups.org