Charles McGahan

With so much love to give those around him, Charles “Chaz” McGahan squeezed every last drop out of life that he possibly could. Although he never shied away from responsibilities, he was a bit of a free spirit who was passionate about the things he believed in. A loving husband and fun-loving father, Chaz dedicated his life to loving his “little ladies” and always strived to see the world through their eyes. Chaz believed that everything happens for a reason and that it is we alone who are responsible for the course of our own lives. With what would seem to be so many years left in which to compose his life’s song, Chaz’s melody was silenced much too soon.

The sixties were turbulent times in America that we will never forget. This was the decade that witnessed the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X while the country was divided in regards to the war in Vietnam. It was during this unprecedented time that there was much to celebrate in one young family from Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the healthy birth of a baby boy on January 2, 1969. Charles was welcomed into the world by his parents, Lloyd D. and Mary (Hall) McGahan, and had three stepbrothers. Due to his father’s job, the McGahans moved a few times including to Muskegon and then to Tennessee where he attended elementary school. He was a good student who enjoyed school. From Tennessee his family moved back to Muskegon and Grand Rapids where he attended Fruitport High School. As a high school student Chaz was friendly and outgoing and with his rich tenor voice, he was a member of the school choir. It was during high school that he met a young girl named Amy Batchelor who was two years his junior. Chaz walked up to her and said, “Saturday, two p.m., date.” They did have that date during which she made dinner at her house. Although the dinner didn’t go too well, they were naturally drawn to one another.

After graduating from high school, Chaz moved to Orange Beach, Alabama, where he worked at a local Holiday Inn. After one year, Chaz moved to Chicago where he stayed for two years. With a desire to see if they could make their relationship work, Amy joined him there for a time. He remained in Chicago for two years, but then moved back to Grand Rapids to be near Amy. Their love blossomed and on June 27, 1997, Chaz and Amy were married at his mother’s lake home. They complemented each other in so many ways such as the way she was naturally grounded while he was a free spirit. Amy always said that she fell in love with his personality, but that she fell more in love with his vulnerability.

The bride and groom enjoyed a honeymoon near Mackinac Island and were eager to settle down. They lived in Shelby Township, but soon moved to Chicago where Amy worked as a retail manager while Chaz worked in food service. His work always went around hers as he supported her desire to climb the corporate ladder. When Amy injured her neck in 2009, their roles reversed as he began doing whatever he could to advance his career. Although doing so was very contradictory to his nature, Chaz did whatever needed to be done in order to provide for his family. After spending 10 years in Chicago, they returned to Grand Rapids where he worked at Costco and established many great friends.

Establishing their careers was important to Chaz and Amy, but didn’t compare to their desire to have a family. They tried to have children for six years and underwent two unsuccessful in vitro fertilization treatments. Chaz was there during the ups and downs and remained strong despite their fears and doubts of ever being blessed with children. It was the third attempt with in vitro that finally led to the birth of their precious girls, Tabitha and Rhiannon, on February 13, 2006.

From the moment they were born, Chaz’s girls were his life, and both he and Amy were actively involved in raising them. They had no babysitters or nannies, but coordinated their work schedules in such a way that allowed one of them to be there for their girls. When Tabitha was cutting teeth at two months of age, Chaz held a teether in her mouth all night so that Amy could sleep, and he then went to work that day. He was so proud of his “little ladies” and his days off were always family days. Family nights were filled with rousing games of Chutes and Ladders and Go Fish, and Chaz was excited to teach them things like how to grow plants from seeds. More recently he loved coloring Easter eggs with them and making cupcakes – just the three of them.

Most of Chaz’s time was focused on his family, but he also enjoyed a variety of interests. He liked to paint with oils and was a great cook who made his own sauces and the best lobster and stuffed pork chops. Chaz was not much of an internet user, but he always kept up on current events through magazines and books. He loved his stereo and all kinds of music, and he could tell an artist and title with just a few chords. Chaz did some traveling with his family, although his idea of camping was in a three star hotel. They often went to visit Bill and Mary and to Chicago and San Diego. Chaz was into the Mother Earth movement and liked to read mythical and fantasy books. He enjoyed television shows like Futurama and movies such as Harry Potter. Chaz wasn’t too handy, but he was always willing to try.

There were so many things that made Chaz such a special man. He was outgoing and friendly – someone who loved being around others. When Chaz entered a room, you knew it as he mastered “putting on a Mary” as he called it after the way his mother worked a room. Chaz was an excellent communicator who together with his wife became a foster parent during more recent years.

The life of Charles McGahan teaches us what it truly means to love unconditionally and without restraint. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and a loyal friend who demonstrated his love for others in everything he did. Chaz believed in making a positive impact in the world around him and though the life he lived each day, he created a deeply embedded footprint that will never fade.

Charles "Chaz" McGahan died on April 25, 2011. Chaz’s family includes his wife, Amy; twin daughters, Tabitha and Rhiannon; parents, Mary (Bill) Geach; mother and father-in-law, Jim (Scherry) Karafa; dear friends, Barb (Joe) Walwood; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Friends may visit his family today from 1-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or photo. Memorial contributions to his family would be appreciated