'An interesting life for sure' — and a happy one

You’re reading Ways of Life, a weekly obituaries newsletter from The Charlotte Ledger honoring our friends, neighbors and family members who made an impact on Charlotte through the ways they lived their lives.

by Ken Garfield

You can tell a lot about a man from the photograph that runs with his obituary. Take, for example, Doyle Tallman of Waxhaw.

See for yourself. He’s wearing a U.S. Navy jacket, marking his service in the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam, which during the war operated small patrol boats in shallow canals and rivers. His wedding band pays homage to his wife of 56 years, Penny, whose love actually knew one bound. She couldn’t bear the taste (no one could) of the drink he invented, “Dos Amigos,” half Mexican beer, half orange juice.

Can you smile and play the harmonica at the same time? You could if you were Doyle. Check out his eyes. They’re twinkling, as if he doesn’t want to miss whatever adventure awaits.

“Adventure” (rather than Earl) might as well have been Doyle’s middle name. During moments of wonder, and there were many, he’d exclaim “Cowabunga!” Or “Shazam!”

By all accounts, Doyle, who died on Oct. 2 at 79, was quirky, curious and loquacious. That last one means talkative. He’d converse with convenience store clerks and most others as if they were his long-lost son or daughter. At the memorial service, Keith Sherman shared the suggestion he’d give his father-in-law before walking into anywhere: “No new friends. We’re in a hurry.”

A native of Orange, Calif., Doyle worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators, translating God’s words into the language of people in the world’s most remote corners. In Papua New Guinea with Penny for 12 years, he ran the print shop, churning out New Testaments in the native language of local tribes. He also taught shop for missionary high school students. In Brazil with Penny for two years, he repaired office equipment and performed other maintenance tasks.

Back home, until he retired, he worked in construction and maintenance for JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Relay Service) in Waxhaw. The Christian ministry provides air, land and sea transport for Wycliffe translators.

Rick Herr, a JAARS colleague and longtime friend, says Doyle had an uncanny ability to figure things out mechanically. When Doyle couldn’t rest his glasses on his nose because of a medical issue, he found a way to hook up his spectacles to his hard hat.

“He enjoyed everything he worked on,” Rick says. “He was a happy fellow.”

Happy indeed.

Doyle built boats and dulcimers. He whittled. He was pretty good on the ukelele and really good on the harmonica. The slide show of old photos that his family put together is set to the music of his favorites, among them Simon & Garfunkel and The Mamas & The Papas.

He read author and theologian C.S. Lewis and chuckled at the quirkiness (there’s that word again) of “The Far Side” cartoons. He was quick to forgive and quicker to tell his loved ones, including his wife, two kids, their spouses and three grandkids, how proud they made him. He was a deep thinker, family members say. He wrestled with life’s complexities, always coming back to the belief on which his own existence rested. “Just follow the Shepherd,” he’d remind himself and others.

How many obituaries note that the dearly departed looked like Paul Newman in his younger days? Or that he sneezed like nobody’s business, “slowly stacking up to seven sonic explosions, forcing all conversation to wait out the barrage?”

At the memorial service at Waxhaw Bible Church, Vocational Elder Eric Bjorkfelt summed it up, Gesundheits and all: “An interesting life for sure.”

The things you leave behind …

Juanita Sherman, the oldest of Doyle and Penny’s two children, says she knows the names of trees and wildflowers and snakes because her father taught her. And it wasn’t just about knowing your way around nature.

“He made me curious about everything in the world, and people, too, when sometimes they are easy to overlook,” Juanita says. “I’m so lucky, me and my brother, John.”

On the day of Doyle’s passing, his surgical team asked if he was ready for general anesthesia and intubation.

“Let ’er rip,” he told them.

Those were his last words.

Charlotte writer/editor Ken Garfield is a frequent contributor to Ways of Life. He also writes obituaries for people. Reach him at [email protected].

Charity Renee Artieri, 41, of Charlotte attended UNC Charlotte and went on to build a career in the health insurance industry, working as a licensed insurance agent in North Carolina. She loved adventure, traveling and making memories, whether it was a carefully planned vacation or a spontaneous trip with the people she loved. She believed that life was meant to be lived, celebrated and enjoyed, from sunny days at the beach to nights filled with live music and baseball games. 

Robert Kevin Austin, 68, of Charlotte attended Myers Park High School and was a member of Park Road Baptist Church as a child and most recently attended Calvary Baptist Church. Kevin loved hunting and playing golf. 

Christine Hairr Branner, 87, of Charlotte won the 1957 Miss Charlotte Hornet pageant back when the Hornets were a baseball team. And in 1958, she was runner-up in the Miss North Carolina pageant. She signed on with a model agency and made some cash for herself. Christine sang in the Sardis Presbyterian Church choir. She was a legendary cook, preparing an entire feast from scratch for Thanksgiving without any help.

Marshall Eugene Carter, 64, of Charlotte attended Johnson C. Smith University. He was part of the Shriners Club and was affiliated with Jude Cancer Research for Children, Save the Children, Feed the Children and many more organizations dedicated to community aid and charity. He loved photography and would sometimes take photos of other photos, capturing moments with a patient eye and an appreciation for what deserved to be preserved. He also enjoyed watching Westerns and “The Twilight Zone.” 

James Scott Crow, 64, of Charlotte spent his entire career working on transmissions. He was passionate about his career and made a name for himself doing what he loved. He eventually opened his own shop, Scott Crow Transmissions in Charlotte. Even after he retired, he was still there when anyone needed him to provide advice for a problem or help them. One of his favorite things to do was go scooter pootin’, no destination, but always finding something new along the way.

Robert “Bob” Lowry Davis, 81, of Charlotte was a passionate tinkerer. He especially enjoyed tinkering on cars, vintage and more recent models. As a mechanic, he used his gift to support UPS, Yellow Freight and Rea Brothers of Charlotte. Being outdoors brought Bob joy, whether fishing, camping or working with trees in the woods. 

John Giles Foushee Jr., 75, moved back to Charlotte in 1980 after his military obligation was completed and began his private dental practice. He retired in 2017. Giles was a member of the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society and the Charlotte Dental Society. Outside of dentistry, he loved playing tennis, fishing, camping and hiking, as well as cheering for the Davidson Wildcats or UNC Tar Heels. In retirement, he turned his curiosity and creativity toward model trains, where he constructed an elaborate pastoral diorama which could run six trains at a time.

Janis Brenda Komar Galbraith, 86, of Charlotte devoted 30 years to teaching elementary school physical education for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Never one to sit still for long, after retiring, Jan began a second career in real estate with Coldwell Banker, becoming a million-dollar sales agent for 25 years. Jan loved people, but perhaps nothing could compete with her love of dogs. 

Alvis Lamont Grier, 51, of Charlotte graduated from Myers Park High School in 1992. His last place of employment was United Carolina Beverages. He had a passion for comics, drawing and wrestling, which allowed his creative imagination and playful side to shine.

Margaret Scott Akers Hardage, 72, of Charlotte attended Eastover Elementary and graduated from Myers Park High School in 1973. The natural world had a special place in Margaret’s heart. For a time, she volunteered as a docent, leading tours at Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. Her faith was very important to her, and she was a lifelong member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Margaret was outgoing, creative and funny, with a gift for storytelling and finding humor in everyday life. She loved gardening, cooking, birdwatching and art, and she was an accomplished calligrapher.

Deborah Hall Marr-Hipkins, 61, of Mooresville graduated from Garinger High School in 1983. She worked in several fields, but her most treasured job was the work she did with Fresh Chef as a catering manager for over 10 years. Deborah was active in several pool and bowling associations. She was self-proclaimed and widely renowned as the "defense queen on a pool table.” She always brought passion and skill to the game. In her free time, Deborah enjoyed crafting homemade candles to sell, dancing, singing karaoke, taking trips to the beach and enjoying occasional casino outings. 

Norene Mae Mitchum Moore, 97, of Charlotte moved here in 1960 and started working at Robert Hall clothing stores and later at J.P. Stevens headquarters in Charlotte as a receptionist. Norene’s warm and outgoing personality made her a natural receptionist, and she delighted in greeting and conversing with people wherever she went. Her children sometimes found themselves mildly embarrassed when an ordinary outing turned into a lengthy conversation with someone they had never seen before. She became active at First Alliance Church, where she taught children’s Sunday school and later taught the senior women's Sunday school class for many years.

June Rogers Nunn, 86, of Matthews was an active member of Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons she taught her family was the value of persistence and dedication. While her children were in school and college, June quietly took one or two classes each semester, steadily working toward a goal of her own. At 60, she earned her undergraduate degree. 

Vickie Scruggs Pollock, 69, retired as a registered nurse from Carolinas Medical Center after 40 years. She graduated from UNC Charlotte and was a former member of New Hope Baptist Church. She loved gospel music, traveling, especially to the mountains and enjoyed trips to Israel and Hawaii. 

Dr. John Tracy Roper Sr., 95, of Charlotte completed an orthopedic residency at Memorial Hospital in Charlotte. After completing his training, Dr. Roper launched a solo orthopedic practice and served patients until his retirement in 1990. He was an avid golfer who cherished Quail Hollow Club. He was also a longtime member of Myers Park Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many years and was an active member of the Wesley Sunday school class. In retirement, he served on the board of Bank of Mecklenburg from 1989 until its merger with PNC Bank in 2012. 

Amber Smith, 71, of Charlotte served at Charlotte Memorial Hospital for many years. She was the steady anchor of her family; the one people could always depend on, whether they needed practical advice, a helping hand or simply someone who cared. 

John Allen Williams, 74, moved to Charlotte in 1972 to complete his engineering degree at UNC Charlotte while helping launch Metrolina Builders. John loved the challenge of making a building work. You would often find him at his drafting board, finding a better way to make the pieces fit. An avid outdoorsman, John cherished annual trips hunting across North America or fishing in Ontario. 

Ways of Life condensed obituaries are compiled by Darrell Horwitz.