Charles F. Beaver

Charles Francis Beaver, 77, of Avenue, MD passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026. Charles was born on June 1, 1948, in Leonardtown to the late Kelso Beaver and Agnes Minnette (Minnie) Hall. He attended Holy Angels Sacred Heart School and Chopticon High School. Charles Married Mary Ellen (Wise) Beaver on August 27, 1966, at Our Ladie’s Chapel and shared 59 years together. Charles is survived by his wife Mary and two sons Charles Jr. (Chuck Beaver) and R. Christopher Beaver, and daughter-in-law Sarah Woodward. He is also survived by two special and well-loved grandchildren, Ava and Grant Beaver, and by two step-grandchildren, Jonathan and Matthew Lanier. Charles had many occupations over the years. He started as a plumber’s helper for a local plumber, Andrew Downs, spent many years installing heating and air conditioning for SMO, then established his own business, Interstate Tank Testers. After that he spent seven years as a facilities manager for Cedar Lane Apartments. He said this was his ideal job – he loved people and loved talking and sharing experiences, so this was where he loved to be and where he was much loved by the residents. After a time doing maintenance management for several hotel management companies he went on to his next favorite occupation. He went back to the family farm and started a vineyard where he spent many happy hours working on the land he loved. In his younger years Charles spent many years being a 4H member and leader. He was a former member of the 7th District Optimist Club and a lifelong parishioner of Sacred heart Church in Bushwood. He spent time volunteering with the Southern Maryland Cancer Society. While working with them he came up with an idea for fundraising. It became known as “The Purple Tractor” or “The Survivor.” He took an antique tractor that needed a lot of work and had it restored. The Cancer Society then raffled the tractor off. The person who won it in turn donated to a local charity, and so it went. The Survivor wound up being auctioned and raffled several times, catching the attention of New Holland Tractor Company in New Holland, Pa. New Holland took the tractor around the country to its many dealers – always earning money for cancer research. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, MD with Father Anthony Lickteig officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Jonathan Lanier, Matthew Lanier, Gene Wise, Greg Wise, Billy Jones, and Chris Chewning. Honorary pallbearer will be Jerilyn Campbell. Contributions may be made to the Seventh Dist. Vol. Fire Dept. P.O. Box 206 Avenue, MD 20609, Seventh Dist. Vol. Rescue Squad P.O. Box 7 Avenue, MD 20609, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 37, Bushwood, MD 20618. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.