Charles Kenneth Hamer

Proud son from Keystone, McDowell County, West Virginia. Charles 'Charlie' Kenneth Hamer passed away calmly Tuesday night, November 14th, after battling a long illness. As husband and loving father, Charlie exemplified the values of hard work, giving your best effort in all your endeavors, and making sure to spend time with family and loved ones. Growing up running the hills of Burke Mountain prepared him to be the 'Mighty Mite' of the gridiron. This toughness in Charlie Hamer exemplified throughout all phases of his life, best explained by a former teammate, "when Charlie Hamer hit you he was trying to run over your children." Charlie Hamer loved fishing. He could catch a fish out of a hat. He enjoyed going to the beach with his lovely wife of thirty-two years Doris Carol Hamer and their two Pomeranians, Prince Charles and Baby. Together they loved taking 'short' Sunday drives to enjoy the mountains and an ice cream cone. Charlie Hamer not only taught school for decades, but as Coach Hamer he mentored a generation of young men in the region. Charlie could get young people to do just about anything. He just had a way with kids that they could understand and love. It was evident when he realized what an impact he made on his students during his recent illness. Many of his caregivers went above and beyond for him. Each mentioned that he either taught them in school or coached them, eagerly saying they would "do anything for Coach Hamer." If Charlie was not your coach or your teacher, then he probably worked on your house. Nearly every street in Bluefield is adorned with a new sidewalk, porch, or roof that was improved or remodeled by Charlie with the help of his teaching co-workers or other life-long friends. He didn't just have a green thumb, Charlie Hamer had a green leg. He could grow anything and he loved showing off his beautiful ferns and his immaculate yard. At the end of each day Charlie enjoyed eating a simple meal at home with Carol, often a salad picked fresh from the garden. If you were a guest, invited or not, Charlie would fire up the grill to prepare you a cheeseburger or ribs, his favorite. While socializing on Charlie's back porch you would certainly be offered a cold drink, and if you were his· · favored company, he'd offer you one that came out of the tool shed. If you knew Charlie at all you first had a story that begins with, "There was that one time Charlie Hamer ..." But more importantly, you knew that he was "Pawpaw Charlie" to his beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, who he and Nanny Carol adored. Whether you knew him as "Coach," "Pawpaw," or just "Charlie," I'm certain you'll agree that he left a legacy that will truly be missed and hard to fill. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Hamer and Louise Ethel Gilmore Hamer; and siblings, Ann Jane Hamer-Milam and Joseph Daniel Hamer. Charlie is survived by his wife Doris Carol Hamer; sons, Christopher Scott Hamer, and Chuck Hamer and wife Karin Hamer, children from his first marriage to Kaye Hamer; and daughters, Ann Whitt and husband Robert, and Amy Brewster, from Carol’s first marriage ; grandchildren, Morgan Hamer, Mariel Hamer, Lilly Heath, Mary Kathryn Hamer, Lauren Hamer, Trevor Taylor, Mollie Necessary, Kameron Necessary, Jake Jackson, and Xander Rivera; great-grandchildren, Tucker Taylor and Ellie Taylor; and siblings, James “Jimmy” Hamer and wife Monika, Richard Hamer and wife Dorothea, Russell Hamer and wife Brenda, Dorothy Louise Hicks, and Esther Susan Hamer McPeak and husband Carlos McPeak, Sr. A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Mercer Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Aker officiating. The family will receive friends from noon until the service hour. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Charles Kenneth Hamer.

Charles Kenneth Hamer

June 16, 1945 - November 14, 2023