OBITUARY: LT. COL. CHARLES LOGAN KESSIE, RET.

February 3, 1947 — June 16, 2024

UPDATE: A memorial service will be held in Canadian for Lt. Col. Charles Logan Kessie, Ret., on Friday, August 9, 10:30 am at the First Methodist Church. with Fr. Mark Lang officiating and John P. McGarr serving as lector. A Military and Masonic burial will follow at Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Carmichael-Whatley on Thursday evening, August 8, from 4-6:30 pm.

Lt. Col. Charles Logan Kessie, Ret., 77, of Georgetown, Texas, formerly of Canadian, Texas, passed away June 16, 2024, at Tiffin House in Georgetown, with his daughters, Christina and Elizabeth, at his side.

Charles was born February 3, 1947, to Lovilla Clay Kessie and W.A. Kessie, Jr., in Canadian, Texas. He spent his childhood in Canadian, graduating in 1965 from Canadian High School. He was recipient of the coveted Liske Cup as the best all-around graduate. Charles enrolled in Texas A&M University, thanks in part to a $250 per semester scholarship. He was a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and marched in the bugle rank his senior year.

He married his high school sweetheart, Janie Lynn Jackson, on August 24, 1968. At home in College Station, Charles continued his studies and Janie worked in the Texas A&M library. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Education, Charles was commissioned into the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery. He completed Officers Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then reported to the 2/39th Field Artillery in Schweinfurt, Germany. 

Janie joined him shortly after and their first child, Christina Grace, was born on December 8, 1970. Charles’ duties with the 39th progressed from Forward Observer to Special Weapons Officer. He then was reposted to Fort Hood, Texas, serving summers there, and attended Texas Tech School of Law on the Excess Leave Program.

On August 3, 1976, the Kessies welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth Jane. Charles left for JAG Basic in Virginia, four days later. The Kessies moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for Charles’ first JAG assignment as a criminal defense lawyer. After 10 years of active duty and achieving the rank of Captain, Charles resigned from the Army. The family returned to their hometown of Canadian where Charles joined the law firm of his father-in-law, William J. Jackson. 

Charles was appointed Hemphill County Attorney in 1985, and then was elected to the position multiple times. At the same time, Charles joined the U.S. Army Reserves and was soon attached to the 353rd Engineer Group in Oklahoma City, as an Assistant Judge Advocate and then the Judge Advocate. In 1998, after 28 years of service, Charles retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Charles practiced law in Canadian and the surrounding communities until his retirement in 2019. In addition to his dedicated legal work for families and businesses, Charles provided pro bono services for individuals and nonprofit organizations. He served as court appointed defense attorney for

jurisdictions from Childress to Dalhart and worked regularly with CASA as attorney ad litem for children removed from their homes by CPS. In 2016, Charles was honored by The State Bar of Texas with the prestigious Frank J. Scurlock Award for performing exceptional work in the field of legal services to the poor in civil matters.

Charles was a volunteer throughout his life. He was an active member of Rotary International, for which he served as Canadian Rotary Club President and Assistant District Governor and where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for many years as a supporter of Polio Plus. Charles became a Third Degree Mason in Canadian Lodge #855 at the age of 22, and served in every elected capacity including Master. He was also a member of Miami Lodge #805 and an honored guest of the Schweinfurt, Germany Lodge.

Church membership was a constant in Charles’s life, from his christening at the First Methodist Church of Canadian through his membership in Grace Episcopal Church of Georgetown at his death. In church was where Charles discovered his love for music. He enjoyed singing it, playing it, or just listening to it. Even as his voice and eyes failed him, he continued to hum to the songs and hymns he recognized. His family gathered and sang to him in his final hours.

Flight fascinated Charles from a very young age. He built model planes and eventually owned his own Piper Cherokee 140, which he used to get to his Army Reserve weekends and to happily fly friends and family. Janie was his preferred co-pilot and some of his favorite trips were to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the annual EAA AirVenture Fly In.

The Kessies enjoyed road trips, as well, making a great loop through California into the Pacific Northwest, and finding a favorite spot in Sedona, Arizona. They also traveled in Europe, with school groups and on a Viking river cruise which revisited their old military service stomping grounds.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and by a grandson, Edwin Logan Barritt. Charles is survived by his wife, Janie, of Georgetown, daughters Christina (Robert) Barritt of Lubbock and Elizabeth (Clint) Junell of Hickory Creek, grandchildren Samuel, Abigail, Brock, Kolbi, and Korbin, and brother, The

Reverend John Paul (The Reverend Linda) Kessie of Bastrop.

Mr. Kessie will be honored with a Celebration of Life Monday, at 11 am Monday, July 22, at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown, Texas.

Services in Canadian will be announced at a later time.