Eighty Two Years, 11 months and 19 days……
Charles Perry Mayhall Jr. was born to C. P. Mayhall and Eva White Mayhall on Saturday, December 29th , 1937 in Freer, Texas. The Fifth child and only son of an oil field pumper and his wife. In 1947 Charles Sr moved his family from Freer to the Kingsville/Premont area where they lived in the Mobil Oil Camp "Magnolia" for many years. Young Charles attended Premont Primary and Premont High School where he met his soulmate Carol Blain. Charles was a member of his high school roping club where he earned the nick name "Latigo" for his tall, slender build. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Premont, Premont FFA and played Bass tuba in the Premont HS marching band. (Side story…. Charles proclaimed his undying love for Carol by registering his prized show sow and naming her "Carol Ann"!!)
On Sunday, April 28, 1957, after church services, Charles married his high school sweetheart. Three days later Uncle Sam called and the U S Army shipped him to boot camp at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. The couple spent time in Augusta, Georgia and Fort Hood, Texas before he was shipped overseas to Augsburg, Germany. Charles was a radio and telegraph operator in the signal corps during his service where he became proficient with Morse Code and coded tapes. After an honorable discharge he returned to Texas and his love Carol. He worked on the construction crew of the Exxon gas plant, King Ranch, just outside of Premont. The young married couple then followed the prosperous oil field and moved to McAllen, Texas. In 1961 Charles was badly injured in a rig accident when he came down with the toppling oil derrick while trying to secure pipe during a sheer force windstorm. Charles almost lost his life that evening, but the Lord had bigger plans for him. He suffered busted ribs, broken arm, legs, feet and ankles. Charles was put back together with plates and pins and screws and lived to tell the story. His kids often referred to him later in life as the Bionic Man.
June 1967 brought the couple their first child, a daughter they named Valerie. She was a very special child who needed lots of love and extensive medical care. The Lord knew Valerie would need a family who would love her no matter her physical disabilities and so He sent her to these two very special and loving parents. With a sick child and being miles away from other family members the couple decided to pack up and head back to Premont. There Charles opened an Exxon gas filling station on Hwy 281. 1970 came and with it brought another child when they were blessed with another daughter, Vickie. In 1974 a son was born who would take his father's name and become the third in line so they called him Trey for short. The family settled in Alice and Charles made his career in the oilfield as a tester for Johnston- Schlumberger, then Western, and, as the oil field goes, other companies thereafter. During the oil recession of the 80's he took on a security job with Gomez Security. He delighted in teasing his teenage daughter Vickie….. she found it hard to keep a date around with a uniformed father standing, arms crossed, wearing a holstered .357 in a dark corner of the dance hall… watching….. As it always does the oil field returned and gave Trey the privilege many times throughout his life to work side by side with his Dad.
Charles loved to read Louis L'Amour Westerns, going hunting, fishing and camping with his family. Charles was a mentor for Trey's Boy Scout Troop and earned the rank Wood Badge. Charles also helped to create the Radio Emergency Assistance League assisting fire and police operations during emergencies. Charles efficiently organized and ran hurricane shelters during some of the largest hurricanes to hit the Gulf Coast area. His church memberships included the Baptist Church in Freer, Premont, as well as West Main and the First Baptist Church in Alice. Charles was a loving Husband, Father and Grandfather who worked hard, served our Lord and his country and quietly made his way through life helping others when and where he could.

Thoughts of my Dad…..by Vickie Balderas

There was a man that used to be gone a lot……working in the oilfield…..long hard hours, miles away from home. Hot, dirty, tired…sleeping in his truck. Bologna sandwiches and Hostess Twinkies were his staple….putting food on our table and shoes on our feet.
There was a man that taught us to put peanuts in Dr. Pepper, NEVER be late for work and give it all you've got till you have no more to give.
There was a man that never raised his voice. His direction straight and stern. His blue eyes telling you when enough was enough.
There was a man that loved his country and proudly served his time without complaint or regret.
There was a man that believed in you, even when you found it so hard to believe in yourself…. A man you never wanted to let down.
There was a man who loved history and westerns and old revolvers…. A man that taught us how to shoot a gun, change a tire….and the oil on an old beat up truck.
There was a man that loved dogs and horses and the smell of old leather saddles. A man that taught me how to ride and care for my horse….. and to respect its abilities and inabilities.
There was a man that spent many nights awake, as tired as he was, waiting for his child's safe return home
There was a man who taught the gift of conversation and to respect others if they took the time to tell you their tales.
There was a man that took us to church and taught me to love Jesus and to fear Gods wrath.
There was a man that loved quiet Sunday mornings at home where he sang the Gospel according to Johnny Cash.
There was a man who loved his wife and children and grandchildren with the truest honest devotion there ever was. And a man not afraid to show it……
This man was my dad, Our…Dad.
Go rest high Sir, your work here is done.