KING, Charles Joseph Stanley - Lower River Inhabitants. With profound sadness and deep love, we announce the passing of Charles "Chick" Joseph Stanley King, who hailed from Lower River, Nova Scotia, and was formerly of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. Charles peacefully departed this world on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the age of 81, at St. Martha's Regional Hospital, following a courageous and valiant battle with cancer.

Charles was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 28 years, Florence (Goyetche) of Port Hawkesbury. Their enduring love and devotion centered around their three cherished children: Brenda, Brian (Rebecca Jaffe), and Barbara, all residing in Atlanta, Georgia. His children and daughter-in-law will forever hold cherished memories of him.

He is also survived by a loving family circle, including his sister, Florence (Butch) Robertson of Red Deer, Alberta; brothers, Leo (Anne) of Oakville, Ontario; Joseph (Shirley), and Dennis, both of Lower River, Nova Scotia.  Additionally, he is remembered by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Arthur and Henrietta (Goyetche) Doary of River Bourgeois, Nova Scotia, and their children Amy (Jim Kiriakakis), Patrick, and Joseph (Glenn Tanzo), all from Toronto, Ontario. Sisters-in-law Lorraine King and Lola King of Evanston, Nova Scotia, are among the family, along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.   Charles's heart was further warmed by his god-daughters Annette (Lindsay) Sampson of Evanston, Nova Scotia, and Andrea King of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Charles' heart was also touched by the antics of his furry grandchildren: Clive, George, Hope, Riley, Wyatt, Lyle, and Felix, whose distinctive personalities never failed to bring a smile to his face.

Born to Harold and Barbara (MacEachern) of Evanston, Nova Scotia, Charles was predeceased by his sisters, Catherine McNamara and Isabel Cogswell, as well as brothers Angus, Alexander, Patrick, and Peter. His memory is also shared by the late brothers-in-law Patrick Goyetche and Francis Cogswell, and sisters-in-law Yolonde King, Rose King, and Claudette King.

Charles was renowned for his academic prowess, graduating from high school in St. Peters, Nova Scotia, at the tender age of fifteen. Subsequently, he pursued geology studies at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Together with his wife Florence, he established roots in Port Hawkesbury, where he devoted his career to the Industrial Instrumentation department of Stora Forest Industries. His enduring passion for instrumentation and software led him to continue working, even after retiring from Stora, contributing his expertise to Nova Scotia's offshore oil industry.

Charles' commitment to supporting his children's interests and his dedication to the community were evident through his active involvement in various organizations and activities over the years. He served as the past President of the Port Hawkesbury Figure Skating Association, the Port Hawkesbury Thunderbolts Swim Team, and as Manager for several Strait Pirate and Nova Midget youth, AAA and Junior B Strait Pirate Hockey teams. Additionally, he spearheaded fundraising efforts for numerous local causes and organizations. His spiritual connection was rooted in Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Port Hawkesbury, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus order.

An avid sportsman, his passion was baseball.   He was a great knuckleball pitcher playing throughout his life from his youth to teams including Lower River, the Richmond Gannets and the Canadian Oldtimers championship teams.  He participated in the inaugural Canadian Oldtimers Baseball Championships in 1992, although he did not consider himself an old-timer at that point.  An avid reader with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a knack for solving puzzles, Charlie's inquisitive spirit persisted throughout his life. Although he missed his customary coffee gatherings at Tim Hortons, where he kept abreast of community happenings with friends, he continued to savor a good cup of tea and engage in lively conversations with his family.

Charles life was built upon the pillars of humor, generosity, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to family.   His presence will be profoundly missed by the many lives he touched.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Martin Corsten and the Otolaryngology team on wing 3B of the Victoria General Hospital for their pivotal care of their father. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Steven DeRoche, the dedicated nursing and palliative care teams at the Strait Richmond Hospital, the oncology team at the Cape Breton Cancer Center in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the ICU team at St. Martha's Regional Hospital, and the VON nursing team, whose in-home care played a pivotal role in his care and well-being.

Visitation to pay respects will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. The funeral mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25, 2023, at St. John the Baptist Church in River Bourgeois, officiated by Father John Yake, followed by burial in the St. John the Baptist Cemetery immediately after the service. A reception will be held at the Tara Lynne Community Center in River Bourgeois.

In memory of Charles, memorial donations may be to the Strait Richmond Palliative Care Society, your local animal rescue or to the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Words of comfort and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.haverstocks.com