Description
In Loving Memory of Charles "Charlie" L. Mynatt
Established in memory of "Charlie" Mynatt after he lost his 27 month battle with lung cancer at the age of 53. Charlie was a loving father, husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend. His actions reflected a Christian attitude of giving and love. He enjoyed spending time with his daughters, taking care of the yard and swimming pool, working at a Knoxville steel fabricator, and cooking his own unique concoctions including Mynatt spaghetti.
He was easy-going and loved comedy including reading the comic strips and watching comedy shows on TV. He was an avid University of Tennessee sports fan including football and Lady Vols basketball. Two of his most memorable football games were the 1998 National Championship Game in the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl of 1986 in New Orleans.
Some of his happiest times were swimming with his family both while growing up and after he had his own family. He loved to play water volleyball and basketball with family and friends. In his youth, he had a go cart and was never beaten in hundreds of driveway races with his friends.
He attended Faith Promise Church (FPC) in Knoxville and was a member of Alcoa First United Methodist Church (AFUMC) in Alcoa. He was fond of the unique ways in which FPC prepares non-believers to receive the gospel including the concert-style music. He also had served as head usher at AFUMC and particularly loved helping decorate the church Christmas tree every year.
Charlie was never too busy to help others, e.g. listening to a teenager next door, fixing things around the house for his brother and sister-in-law, laboring on a work project that was "outside the box," walking his grandmother into a local restaurant or cooking what ended up being his last Christmas dinner when his mother-in-law was in the hospital. He was a very giving person that never kept score.
Yet throughout Charlie’s life and the last 27 challenging months, he maintained his great attitude and was not a victim. He went through everyday with a smile and a laugh in spite of his struggles. As Reverend Joe Green, AFUMC Minister, stated, "Charlie did not let life happen to him, he let life happen through him."
