After 80 years on this earth, Charles E. "Charley" Blaes departed for a joyful reunion with his heavenly family on Sept. 17, 2017.
Remaining for now are his four children, Cary, Michael, Lisa and Peter; 10 grandchildren, Matthew, Katelyn, Zachary, Bridget, Brandon, Ryan, Luke, Adam, Katherine and Jonathan.
Charley always felt blessed by his children for their generosity, intelligence, good health and sense of responsibility.
He also left behind two siblings, his sister, Beth; and brother, Bob and his soulmate, Bonnie L. Howard.
The son of Emmet and Ann Blaes of Wichita, Kansas, Charley was born and received his elementary education in Wichita and high school in Wisconsin. He graduated from college in Rome, Italy and took post-graduate studies in theology and social services in St. Louis, Missouri, earning degrees in liberal arts, philosophy and social work.
Following brief employment in public welfare and Catholic Social Services in Wichita, Charley relocated to Mobile, Alabama to assume the role of director of Social Services for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile, a position he held for 16 years. During that time he served on numerous local, state and national boards and committees.
He developed a strong attachment to the work of Alcoholics Anonymous and Kairos, an ecumenical prison ministry operating in several Alabama prisons. He devoted more than 25 years to ministering to inmates at Fountain Correctional Center and death row at Holman Prison, both near Atmore, Alabama.
In addition to participating on more than 50 Kairos teams inside the prisons, he served on all of the administrative levels of the ministry, including its international board of directors.
Always fond of the outdoors, Charley's favorite recreational activities were hunting, fishing and camping, especially in the mountains of Colorado where, for many years, his family maintained a summer home. It was in these mountains that he was often overwhelmed and inspired by the majesty of his Creator's works. He's probably there now.
A mass in celebration of Charley's life will take place on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Daphne.
Visitation will be held one hour before the mass.
If anyone wishes to memorialize him, Charley requested that, in lieu of flowers or such things, donations be made to your favorite charity or to his, Kairos Prison Ministry International Inc., 6903 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 27409 U.S. Hwy. 98, Daphne, AL 36526, 251-625-2900, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
