Charles Clarence Gross

Charles C. Gross, age 87, ladies man, moon pie connoisseur, snazzy dresser and wicked Michigan Rummy opponent, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Charlie was born on June 17 1928 in Fonde, Kentucky to parents James Houston & Callie Ragle Gross. His early endeavors included a stint as a dishwasher in Oak Ridge, and a lumberjack for Dr. Sharp, as well as long and storied jobs at Cherokee Theatre and Drive in. On New Years Day of 1954, Charlie met the love of his life, the beautiful and stunning Bonnie Cate Powell. After a whirlwind romance, Catie made a honest man out of Charlie and the two traveled north to Monroe, Michigan.

For the next quarter of a century, Charlie toiled night and day at Al's Diner, Leakes Stamping and Ford Motor company while Bonnie raised their beautiful daughter (the apple of his eye) Debra Kay. As the years passed on, Charlie's family grew and grew to include several grandchildren and great grandchildren that adored their Papa with unlimited love adoration.

After finishing his career at Ford, Charlie and Catie moved back to LaFollette, TN to enjoy their retirement in the hills of East Tennessee among family and friends. Several of Charlie's past-times in his Golden Years included maintaining a meticulous yard with his riding lawn mower that rivaled most national golf courses, trying to find anything combustible to "be burned" in his infamous Burning Barrel tending one of the best fruit and vegetable gardens in the world year after year that he shared with his grandson Justin the gift who continues to follow his footsteps, firing bottle rockets into the night sky every Fourth of July while successfully never losing a finger of thumb, closely guarding his prized top secret recipe of fried potatoes and enjoying numerous hours of cowboy and Jackie Chan movies with his grandson, Michael. His favorite barber and manicurist was his granddaughter Brooke whom he loved to banter back and forth. He also enjoyed Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr., Daisies, Roses, Coffee, the occasional beer and relished in the fact that everyday he got to wake up to his wife, Catie.

Charlie is preceded in death by his father, James Houston Gross, his mother, Callie Ragle Gross, his brothers, Clyde, Walter, David, Everett and sisters, Ella Mae, Lula and Mattie. Charlie is survived by his amazing wife of 61 years, Bonnie Cate Gross, their amazing daughter, Debi & Thomas Timm, his grandchildren Michael Wiseman, Justin and Karen Wiseman and Brooke and Travis Bowman, his great grandchildren, Abigail, Justin, Tobias, Annabelle (affectionately known as CupCake) and Baby Sammy, Charlie also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, family members and friends who will all miss him terribly.

Visitation will be 11:00-1:00 pm Monday November 23, 2015 in Martin Wilson Funeral Home with funeral service to follow with Chaplin Clay officiating, Interment after service in Indian Creek cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donation to Lone Pine Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine, California. Charlie always had an amazing amount of respect and appreciation for the history and careers of some of his favorite heroes including John Wayne, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and Allan Rocky Lane. The family would also like to thank the entire staff of Amedisys Hospice, NHC and Park West Hospital for their tireless and compassionate care over the past several years.