Obituary for Charles “Chas” Lyttle

Charles "Chas" Lyttle, 56

Rodman, NY - Charles "Chas" Edmond Lyttle, 56, moved into his heavenly home on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. With his family nearby, he was quickly ushered into the glorious presence of his Heavenly Father after a massive pulmonary embolism.

Charles is survived by his wife of 33 years, Amy K. Lyttle, their children: Heather (Walter "Scotty" IV) MacPherson, Alexandria Bay, NY, and Mikayla (Troy) Darrah, Watertown, NY, grandchildren: Walter "Wally" V & Amelia MacPherson and Adeline & William "Liam" Darrah, and his cherished grandpups: Max (MacPherson) and Oliver (Darrah). His father, Charles A. Lyttle, Watertown, NY, and sisters, Kathryn "Kathy" (Terry) Gibson, Chaumont, NY, Brenda Lyttle, Watertown, NY, and her companion, Bill Devito, and Amy Rapholz, Watertown, NY, and her companion, Mike Coppola. As well as his beloved uncles, aunt, many cousins, nephews, nieces, extended family through his wife, Amy, including his mother-in-law, Louise (Corky) Yelle, and friends who were like family. Going before him were his mother, Nancy Lyttle, father-in-law, Richard Kelley, and granddaughter, Autumn Darrah.

Born in Watertown, NY, on August 30, 1967, the youngest of four children to Charles A. and Nancy (LaFave) Lyttle, Charles grew up in the Watertown area. He graduated from South Jefferson Central School in 1985.

Charles joined the United States Army in 1986 and became a Sergeant serving with the 570th USAAG in Münster-Handorf, Germany, and Fort Devens, Massachusetts. In 1988, he earned the honor of Soldier of the Year. In an article highlighting his achievement, he said, "The key to winning was the attention to detail, discipline, confidence, and a good attitude." He described other qualities of a good soldier, "A soldier should have the discipline to follow orders and enough initiative to accomplish the mission in the absence of orders." Finally, he mentioned the importance of having "...short and long-term goals that are achievable." He completed military service in 1992 as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist, supervising and training other soldiers in Nuclear Weapons Procedures. The qualities Charles fostered in his military career carried over into other areas of his life through his service to others, formal and informal leadership roles, and lastly, after waking up from his accident in August 2023, the first thing he said was that he wanted to "set some goals."

Charles graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration. Throughout the years, he worked at LaFave, White & McGivern, Tug Hill Construction, and most recently served the Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) as the Maintenance Supervisor and Modernization Coordinator. He often spoke of how meaningful he felt his work at the WHA was in the ways he could support his team and help the organization's mission. He was recently promoted to Assistant Executive Director at the WHA, where he looked forward to establishing deeper connections with staff and residents alike.

On February 10, 1990, Charles married the love of his life, his "rock," Amy K. Kelley, at Adams Center Baptist Church. He was thrilled to have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take Amy on their honeymoon to Garmisch, Germany, and for her to meet the many people Charles had befriended there. They established their long-time residence in Rodman, NY, where he was an active community member, neighbor, and friend to all. As a policeman's son, he enjoyed listening to the scanner. In addition to his attention to detail and care for others, he was always in the know, establishing an unspoken 'neighborhood watch' looking out for others. By God's grace, Chas and Amy built what he described as their proudest accomplishment, their family. He often thanked God for "entrusting" them with their daughters. Even before they were born, Charles and Amy prayed for God's provision and the salvation of Heather, Mikayla, their future husbands, and their families. He welcomed Scotty and Troy into the family, loving them as his own sons. 

Family, making memories, and establishing traditions were always important to Charles. Even in his personal hobbies, he found a way to turn them into family events. From hunting, getting the girls shotguns one Christmas, teaching them gun safety, hunting/survival skills, and demonstrating respect for nature, to motorcycle riding, getting a sidecar, and including the girls, their friends, relatives, grandkids, and grandpups on rides, to his passion for exploring the genealogy in both the Kelley and Lyttle families, reading old family journals, sharing interesting family facts and taking the girls to various cemeteries to uncover hidden discoveries. Seeing him make lost connections in his respect for history and family heritage was fun. He also recently became involved in Fantasy Football with his son-in-law, Troy, winning the Championship in his first year. 

His other passions included journaling, writing the annual family Christmas/New Year letters, photography, and cycling. He enjoyed family gatherings on NASCAR race days with his parents and sisters, watching the international space station, and tracking the ships that would pass along the St. Lawrence River. When his girls were young, there were many memorable family trips with the Lyttle and Kelley extended families to Inlet, Florida, and Rockport. He kept these traditions alive by initiating the "Lyttle, MacPherson, and Darrah annual family vacations." Over the last six years, he enjoyed planning trips to the Outer Banks, Henderson Harbor x2, Virginia Beach, Alexandria Bay, and Bar Harbor. While it was fun to explore new places and incorporate delicious foods, family hikes, kayaking, board games, and trips to ice cream stands as part of the vacation planning, his biggest priority was being together as a family. His role as "Poppy" to his four beautiful grandchildren, Wally, Amelia, Adeline, and Liam, was one of his most cherished roles. He loved each one deeply. 

Charles was a longtime member of the Life Church of the Nazarene and brought his family up in the Church. He ministered to others within the church through his service as a church board, finance committee, security, and maintenance team member. His faith was strong, and his life was a testament to God's faithfulness for those who put their hope and trust in Jesus.

He loved supporting his community through Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Northern New York and served there as a board member. He was a founding Rolling Faith Motorcycle Ministry member at Life Church alongside several of his best friends, including Chuck Sweet, whom he considered a brother. He annually participated in the Sweet Spirit Ride (in memory of Sue Sweet), raising money for the church's youth ministry and the local Food4Families. He even rappelled over Midtown Towers in a fundraising event to support The United Way. He was also involved in the Rodman Hunting Club, Fairview Cemetery Committee, the Rhode Center Board, and much more!

Chas was a man of integrity and never afraid of hard work. He loved his Lord and Savior and embodied Matthew 22:37-39 by demonstrating his love for God and others. Whether you were family, a friend, a church member, a coworker, a neighbor, or a stranger- he was invested. He made connections with many by showing interest in their interests. Charles was intuitive of others' needs and selflessly showed his kind and compassionate heart by eagerly helping to support the needs of others in any way possible. His smile was contagious, and he always knew how to bring laughter to the party. In his final days here on this earth, he acknowledged that he had been given 101 "bonus days" and continuously expressed his thanks to God for this gift. Throughout this extended journey in the last three months, he did not stop giving glory to God and encouraged his family to "share at least one praise of how God is working" when conversing with others. On the day of his graduation to heaven, the Lord gifted his family with a stunning sunrise and sunset, and they counted nine ships that passed along the St. Lawrence in his honor.

In his own words, excerpted from Christmas/New Year letters, he wrote: "Naturally, our plans are not necessarily the Lord's. Of course, His plans always leave an opening for us to give Him glory and honor… and that we did and continue to do!" "Our prayer for our friends & family in the coming year is that the Lord will shower all of you with His blessings. For those of you who know the Lord—be encouraged and strong in the faith. For anyone who does not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord, we pray that you may know that He does not want to take your life from you but rather to give you life more abundantly…"

-Charles E. Lyttle 

For more information about Charles' recent months, the ways God has been working, encouragement found in this time, or to share memories and love with his family, please visit: https://charles-updates.blogspot.com

This year has been "…challenging and not without struggles at times, but the Lord is good and always with us, blessing us and helping us grow in Him. It was certainly a year of trust, and His faithfulness always prevailed. How wonderful it is to see the outcomes of trusting in Him…" "All of this to say, through it all, God has always been the One that draws us together, helps us through the difficult times and brings us out stronger. Amy and I praise Him for His provision... We hope you are blessed by our testimony, and we pray this finds you well!" 

-Charles E. Lyttle

The celebration of life for Charles will take place at 11 am on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Life Church of the Nazarene, 535 Thompson Boulevard, Watertown, NY 13601. Calling hours will begin at 10 am before the service at the church—burial with military honors following service in Fairview Cemetery, Rodman, NY. Arrangements are with the Carpenter Stoodley Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, knowing how much his church and the ministry of Care Net meant to Charles, his family asks that you donate to Life Church of the Nazarene Watertown, at 535 Thompson Boulevard Watertown, NY 13601, or Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Northern New York, at 724 State Street Watertown, NY 13601.