Charles Dewey Waterworth

Charles “Chuck” Dewey Waterworth, Jr. was born December 24, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Chuck grew up in Competition, Missouri where his parents owned a farm. He spent his youth working on the farm, trapping, fishing, hunting, and playing in the Gasconade River, local woods, and caves.

A WWII veteran, Chuck Waterworth joined the army in 1945, soon after he turned 18 years old. He was in the Third Infantry and was stationed in occupied Germany. There, he was an MP and worked in a medical unit and in an artillery disposal unit. Later, during the Korean War, he joined the National Guard.

In 1947, he married Lois E. Bratcher. They lived in Independence, Missouri, until moving to Nixa, Missouri in 1971.

Chuck worked most of his life as a barber. He owned and operated several barbershops, including Chuck’s Barber Shop on Main Street in Nixa, Missouri until his retirement.

Chuck was a member of the Nixa Church of Christ for 54 years. He served as an elder for many years there and attended regularly with his daughter.

An avid musician, Chuck played guitar, mandolin, and sang. He loved listening to music and attending and hosting local music jams. He especially loved old country music, funny songs, and the songs that his mother sang to him in his youth.

Chuck loved genealogy and history, especially family history and Laclede County history. He co-authored a book about family history with his brother, Bill, called Waterworth-Jones Chronicles. He also wrote a book called History of the Nixa Church of Christ.

Chuck stayed social through his whole life. He loved talking to people, telling stories, and joking. He loved to frequent local restaurants and made friends everywhere. He especially loved going to McDonald's every morning to get biscuits-and-gravy and a coffee.

His sense of humor lasted his entire life and was passed down to his children and grandchildren.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents: Charles Dewey Waterworth Sr. and Bryna Mae Jones Waterworth; his brothers and sisters: Ernie, Florene, Walter, Bill, Bob, and Jack; his wife, Lois Bratcher Waterworth; his daughters, Barbara and Paula; his son-in-law, David Landes; and his great grandson, Brady Landes.

He is survived by his sister Norma; his daughter, Leslie Waterworth; his son, Bryan Waterworth and daughter-in-law, Connie Waterworth; and eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025 at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa, with John Lee officiating. Burial will follow in Competition Cemetery, Competition, Missouri. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.