Charles R. "Chuck" Kuester

Our friend and brother Charles R. (“Chuck”) Kuester had the good fortune to die peacefully In Christ on January 9, 2024 while at home with his best friend and wife of forty-two years, Carrie Hatchett Kuester.

Chuck played many roles in the lives of those he knew, loved and encountered. First and foremost, however, Chuck loved Jesus and professed his faith to all he knew and met. Even more importantly, Chuck confessed his faith acknowledging that he was a sinner saved by Grace. He routinely expressed the joy that salvation brought him and delivered him into the waiting arms of Jesus last Tuesday.

Chuck was born in Helena, Montana on February 18, 1950 to Richard Kuester and Emily Hamill Kuester. Raised in the State of Washington, Chuck’s sensibilities and manner of speaking were as refreshing as they were direct in the Southeast where he lived for the last five decades. Chuck proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was a combat veteran in Vietnam for the greater part of four years. A true patriot, Chuck’s service to Our Country was reflected in his love for Our Homeland but also in his thoughtful assessment of the Union following his years of service.

He met and then married Carrie on March 17, 1981 and lived in Savannah for a time before following Carrie to live together in Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1982. While in Hendersonville and at the age of forty-four, he became a psychiatric nurse and with tenderness and empathy, took great care with his patients who were often marginalized or misunderstood. In Hendersonville he and Carrie enjoyed splitting time between their condominium downtown and their delightfully rustic mountain cabin near the Big Hungry River. While in Hendersonville, Chuck and his good friend Lug were mainstays on Main Street where they enjoyed long walks punctuated by frequent stops along the way allowing Chuck (and particularly Lug) the opportunity to maintain Lug’s local celebrity status with adoring fans. Chuck experienced his conversion that would define the last decades of his life in Hendersonville on September 26, 2004. Chuck became an active and steadfast member of Covenant Baptist Church and loved his pastor and fellow congregants. He also loved serving others through Baptist Disaster Relief while in North Carolina.

Valuing the relationships with his family as he did, he again moved with Carrie to Baxley in 2016. While in Baxley, Chuck quickly endeared himself to an entirely new segment of people who were fortunate to know him. Chuck and Carrie attended First Baptist Church where he served as a past deacon and Sunday School teacher. Chuck volunteered as a greeter and assisted with Vacation Bible School. As with Covenant Baptist, Chuck was a welcoming member and constant presence in the church and loved and supported his pastor together with those in his congregation.

In Baxley, Chuck fully embraced his expanding role as a representative of and helper for Santa Claus, volunteering to frequently stand-in for his look-a-like during the Big Guy’s busiest time of year. In this role, Chuck relished the opportunity to encounter the children of Appling County both in their schools and at Winter Wonderland where he met many children who had no other opportunity to convey their Christmas wishes to Santa in person. 

Chuck was a self-styled “bon vivant” in his later years. A pioneering proponent of free-range escargot, he enjoyed sumptuous foods prepared by Carrie and his family and a libation on occasion. He also found great enjoyment in sport preferring to watch hockey and little boy baseball over more frivolous contests.

Preceding Chuck in death are his parents, his mother and father-in-law Pat and Robert Hatchett of Deland, Florida, nephews Thomas and Grant Hatchett of Brunswick, and his previously-identified famous furry friend Lug, Chuck’s beloved Welsh corgi.

Carrie survives Chuck sorrowfully while assured she will see him again. He is also survived by his sister Pat Lively, brothers-in-law, Tom (Cindy) Hatchett of Baxley, Russell Hatchett of Cocoa, Florida and Marty (Susan) Hatchett of DeBary, Florida. Surviving him also are nieces Cristen (Graham) Floyd of Baxley, Caroline (William Nicholson) Hatchett of New York City, and nephew Russell “Rusty” (Sandra) Hatchett, Jr. of Cocoa, Florida. He was thankful to have special cousins Laurie Ryan and Bob Ryan living in Baxley and they too survive him. Important to Chuck were his surviving grandnieces and grandnephews including Camille Floyd, Robert Floyd, Eliezer Hatchett, Rebecca Hatchett and Chuck’s very close companion and confidant, grandniece Charlotte Floyd.

A service celebrating Chuck’s life will occur on Tuesday, January 16. The family will host visitors from 1-3 p.m. with the service following at 3 p.m. that same day. Both will take place at First Baptist Church in Baxley.  Following that will be an interment at the Georgia Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Glennville on Wednesday, January 17 at 10 a.m.

Scheduled officiants include Chuck’s longtime pastor, Branton Burleson of Asheville, North Carolina, his current pastor, Fred Anderson, and a convocation of Reverends: Donnie Butler, Steve Meguiar, Joe Ferguson and Robert Wigley.

Active pallbearers are Tom Hatchett, Marty Hatchell, Russell Hatchet, Bob Ryan, Graham Floyd, and Robert “Bob” Tanner. Honorary pallbearers include the members of the Charles Hart Sunday School class and the staff of the VA North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System

Carrie asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to a charity of your choice or to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) which provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world, a cause near to Chuck’s heart.