Charles W. Fay: Always ready to help, loved soccer and cooking
COLUMBIA — Charles Fay was a pleasant surprise: His mother hadn't known she was pregnant with twins.
"Charlie came into this world unexpectedly and left unexpectedly," William Fay, his father, said. "In between was a lot of joy."
Charles Walter Fay of Columbia died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, of an accidental drowning. He was 26.
Mr. Fay was born on Jan. 7, 1985, in Ann Arbor, Mich., to William and Carol Fay.
His brothers remembered Mr. Fay as a fun-loving and generous person.
"He was someone you could always talk to no matter where you were," brother Jack Fay said. "No matter what the circumstances were, he was cheerful."
Mr. Fay's mother, Carol Fay, remembered when he was 3 years old and sat atop the kitchen counter, watching her do housework. She said she asked him if he wanted to go play with the other kids outside, but he replied, "I just like to talk."
"He was not afraid to spend time with people," Carol Fay said. "He always put himself out there for others."
Bill Fay, one of Mr. Fay's brothers, said Mr. Fay was always good with people. "He was so socially talented," he said.
Mr. Fay moved to Columbia in 2005 to be closer to his family. His father is a professor at the MU School of Medicine.
Mr. Fay worked at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources from 2006 to 2011, and he prided himself on his customer service skills.
Patrick Fay, one of his brothers, said, "He was always good at helping other people. Just a nice guy."
Mr. Fay was the captain of his high school soccer team in Ann Arbor and hoped to become a professional soccer referee, Bill Fay said. He was a U.S. Soccer Federation Grade 7 referee and had officiated local and regional matches in Columbia.
"He was going up the ladder in referee circles and loved it," Carol Fay said. "He always said he would do it even if he wasn't paid."
Patrick Fay said that when Mr. Fay was 13 or 14 years old, he would run around the house giving people red cards for their misbehavior. Patrick Fay said the memory always brings a smile to his face.
Family, friends and soccer were Mr. Fay's three main loves, Jack Fay said. Mr. Fay also loved to cook. Jack Fay said Mr. Fay's broccoli was so good that he'd go back for second and third helpings. His mother remembered Mr. Fay loved to cook steak.
"He cooked everything," Mr. Fay's grandmother Marion Fay said.
Mr. Fay is survived by his parents, Carol and William Fay, of Columbia; five brothers, William Fay, Patrick Fay, Kevin Fay, Thomas Fay and Jack Fay; one sister, Eleanor Fay; his grandmothers, Marion Fay and Elizabeth Fay Davis of Chicago; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Condolences can be posted at parkerfuneralservice.com.
