Charlie Pack

Charlie Pack April 29, 1937 August 3, 2013 Charles Edward Pack passed away Saturday, August 3, 2013, on his father's birthday, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 8, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Wayne Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 7, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Funeral Home. Charlie was born on April 29, 1937, in the original Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, Texas, to Charles Leroy "Skinny" and Eva Marie Pack. He graduated from Waco High School in 1955, where he was an All American in basketball and still holds the record for most points scored in a single game and highest free throw percentage. Charlie was also All Conference at Baylor University, where he majored in music theory. Charlie was a natural athlete, grew up playing baseball and was a champion ping pong player, scratch golfer, tennis player and pool player. He formed the band, Charlie Pack and the Originals, and played many venues throughout Texas and Las Vegas. He had the honor of performing with Willie Nelson, Bryan White, Kenny Rogers and LeAnn Rimes. Charlie was National Sales Leader for American General Insurance Company in 1985 and sold insurance until he was able to change professions to his one true passion, which was fishing. He was a champion fisherman for both bass and crappie, and has numerous awards including Texas Big Bass Champion, Texas Open Bass Champion, Central Texas Crappie Champion and was inducted into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Fishing Hall of Fame in 2008. He was legendary across Texas and Louisiana, where his award-winning TV show "Fishing Country" aired from 1989 to 2013. He hosted many celebrities on his shows, such as President George W. Bush, Drayton McLane, Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Johnson, baseball legend Nolan Ryan, and Lance Berkman, and many NFL players such as Mel Renfro, Ike Taylor and Randy Moss. Charlie was also an inventor of the Pack's Pole, which was sold throughout many stores across the state and was used for his Tadpole Foundation's annual fishing party, where he hosted thousands of children to a day of fishing. Charlie was predeceased by his parents; a niece; and just six months ago by his wife of 53 years, Lynn Dyer Pack. He is survived by his four daughters, Shannon Jackson and her husband, Larry, Kelley Perrin and her husband, Greg, Tracey Upshaw, and Stacey Ferguson and her husband, Steven; eight grandchildren, Colton Jackson, Emily Perrin, Ella Perrin, Matt Upshaw, Kayla Upshaw, Ashley Ferguson, Tiffany Ferguson and Kirstey Ferguson; and one great-grandchild, Mathias; two sisters, Marie Cannon and Betty Eyerley; two sisters-in-law, Pinky Burt and Nell Shull; and thirteen nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are his sons-in-law and grandsons, and Joe Cutler and Rob Jolliff. Honorary pallbearers are his life-long friends, D.D. "Douthit " Baxley, Noley Bice, Scott Bottoms, Dennis Hill, Tim Jackson, Johnny Mankin, Jerry Nye, Fred Overton, Don Riddle, Mike Romano and Rick Winters. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the North Central Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. We would like to thank his loyal sponsors, WalMart, Coca Cola and Mars Chocolate for always supporting him and all of his many caretakers over the past few years. We want to thank Michael Thompson for his years of dedication to Pack Productions. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.