Charles Juckes

The services celebrating the life of Charles Juckes, 61, of Ponca City will be held privately at a later date.

Charles (Charley) Austin Juckes passed away on January 14, 2019 after a difficult and troubled life. In his last few days, he wanted to share advice with his family about choosing the right road. He explained that the road he chose to follow was dark, depressing and lonely.  The other road was bright, colorful and happy.  He wanted us to choose the right path for our lives.

Charley was born May 14^th, 1957 in Artesia, New Mexico.  As an infant he suffered a traumatic injury that burned both lower legs and caused extreme damage to both feet. The following years were full of skin grafts and surgeries. At a very early age he turned to alcohol and later drugs which lead to bouts of violence.

Charley understood he was making very dangerous choices. He tried repeatedly to turn his life around and did have multiple occasions of a normal, happy life.  He married briefly and had a much-loved son, Charles Neal Juckes. 

Despite his addictions, Charley was a hard worker. He did concrete work until the lime in the concrete caused ulcers to attack the scarred skin tissue on his legs and feet leading to more surgeries.  He worked construction and was promoted to a supervisor position until that pressure was too much and he turned again to drugs and alcohol.  His last job in Oklahoma was as a janitor for OU.  Charley seemed happy there until he was diagnosed with the multiple, fatal health conditions.

Charley quit his job at OU and decided to return to New Mexico to die. Once he was there however, he decided that his home state was too barren and “brown” for someone who was going to die so he decided to see more places.  He ended up in North Dakota, just before winter, and when asked what he did there the only answer was, “Froze!”.

Before his second winter in ND, Charley decided to come back to Ponca City for his last days. He was able to reconnect with old friends and family and although his mental health was declining, he still wanted to share this; “You have a choice. Choose the right roads.”

Charley is preceded in death by his father, Charles Francis Juckes and his mother, Frances Sue Juckes. He leaves behind his son, Charles Neal Juckes; his siblings, Steve Juckes and his wife Kathy and their children, Steven Paul and Kailee Juckes; Debbie Juckes and her husband Curt Thompson and their children, Josh Stieber, Jake Stieber, Sonya Meier and Traci Thompson; Diana (Juckes) Russell and her husband Steve Russell and their children Lane and Levi Russell; Dotti (Juckes) Call and her husband Karl Call and their children Magnolia Patton and Kaya Call.

Condolences to the family may be made online at WWW.EnidCremation.com

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