Charles "Chuck" Bybee Jr.

Chuck was my best friend growing up in Clay Township; we were born within 23 days of each other in early 1955. We lived 2 houses apart on 27th Street and carpooled to kindergarten in the fall of 1960. We went on to Maple Lane Elementary and Clay High School. We played sports together and rode our bikes all over the neighborhood, with many excursions to Greenwoods Shopping Center for candy and other essentials. In the winter, we shoveled snow, built forts, shoveled more snow and sometimes tunneled into the crusty piles of snow ever-growing beside our driveways.

Chuck was always friendly, polite and respectful to people. We joined cub scouts together where we learned to be even better citizens. I don´t recall us ever getting mad at each other, but we did disagree on who was better - Elvis or the Beatles in the 60´s.

Chuck was a very loyal friend. I got the golf bug in 1969 and Chuck was already playing some, so we tried to find our golf games together. By spring of 1971 I was still terrible but I decided to try out for the Clay HS golf team; I asked Chuck to try out with me and he agreed. Poor guy, it was late March and there were still patches of snow on the ground at Elbel Golf Course. We struggled around in the cold and neither scored well enough to make the cut. I don´t think he ever really wanted to try out, but he was willing to keep his good buddy company.

As soon as he could drive, Chuck bought a gold Plymouth Duster which he kept in immaculate condition. This enabled Chuck to get a lot of dates! To fund his endeavors, he got a job at Picket´s Shell station and often worked the "full service" pumps, cleaning windshields, checking oil levels and pumping gasoline for customers. He told me once that during periods of deep freeze, when the window washing fluids were frozen solid, a customer would ask him to pick up some snow and smear it around on their windshield to clean it. He didn´t much like that, but I´ll bet he always provided service with a smile.
Chuck was the first demonstrate how to make donuts in the snow on Greenwoods parking lot!

I met my future wife during my senior year at Clay; we double-dated with Chuck and his then-current flame a few times in high school. The day after my senior prom we four spent the day at Warren Dunes on Lake Michigan. What fun memories!

When Debby and I were married in August, 1978, Chuck stood up for us at Little Flower Church.

We are SO thankful that we were able to see Chuck and his wife Maureen at Debby´s 50th Clay HS reunion on August 4, 2024. He and I picked up right where we left off, even though it had been ~25 years since we had seen each other.

Chuck was a great friend, always generous, ready to help and fun to be around and we will miss him dearly!

I say goodbye to a neighbor I wish I had gotton to know better.For nearly 35 years we talked over the back fence and I will always remember that.My best wishes to Maureen and all his family.My world is a little sadder,but like to think the band is playing your favorite music and you can dance on until we meet again.Goodbye,Chuck,you left to soon and I couldn't say goodbye.Larry Oakley