Sagehen Mesa - Season 2, Episode 11 - In Remembrance of Charles Elmer Culpepper

October 03, 2025

Sagehen Mesa native Charles "Chuck" E. Culpepper passed away in his at his home yesterday. He was known by locals as an avid fisherman . . .

and all around good guy.

Chuck was the first born son of Oscar and Evelyn Culpepper and spent his childhood fishing, exploring painting and sculpting, and trying to keep his younger brother Ben out of trouble. Chuck graduated from Sagehen Mesa High School and soon married Milly Jordan. The couple never had any children of their own, so he poured his nurturing into his pack of dogs.

Chuck always took an interest in the youth in town, doting on them and giving them advice.

Chuck was a civil servant, and served on the town council for several years.

After the death of his parents and his wife Milly, Chuck moved in with his brother Ben in their old homestead, where he stayed until he met and fell in love with Kellee Hirsh. They were soon wed.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Milly, . . .

and is survived by his wife Kellee, his brother Ben, his nephew Paul and Paul's wife and two daughters. A memorial service will be held at the Sagehen Mesa Community Church, and he will be laid to rest beside his first wife Milly at the Mesa View Cemetery.

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Forgive me if I'm not very coherent. I'm going through a difficult time. I'm Kellee Culpepper, Chuck's widow.

We had a very nice service for Chuck. Josie spoke well of him, and having grown up with him, had a lot of amusing anecdotes to share.

It turns out that her marriage with her Italian husband Luis is on the rocks; they have divorced, and Luis is making plans to move back to Monte Vista in the morning. He was nice enough to pay his respects before leaving.

It seem Josie has a fondness for Ben Culpepper that she just can't shake.

Most people were very respectful at the funeral, with one exception - Josie's granddaughter made a spectacle of herself.

It's in very bad taste to harass the grieving. She had a bad experience with Ben when she was younger, but it's time to let bygones be bygones.

I understand she has faced some losses of her own, what with her father divorcing her mother and skipping town to avoid scandal and potential jail time, but someone needs to take that young lady over their knee. Josie could do it too.

She got in a scuffle with a much younger woman, who it seems was giving Luis too much attention, and she whooped the little tramp.

The service was well attended. Chuck would have been glad to see that.

The service was followed by a pancake supper.

Perhaps Josie and I can have a girls' day out sometime as we have both lost our husbands. I've got the sailboat Chuck insisted on buying. Maybe we can go out sailing and fishing.

After the service, the dogs and I went to the cemetery and laid Chuck to rest beside Milly.