CHARLES WILLIAM (‘CHUCK’) ARMIT

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Chuck Armit announces his passing on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018.
Charles William “Chuck” Armit was born on Nov. 1, 1958 to David and Bernice Armit.
Chuck was raised in the north-end “Cabbage Town” with his parents and two sisters, Debbie and Lisa. The north end was a place that he held dear to his heart and is where he continued to live most of his life.
He would spend his days raiding gardens and looking for trouble with the neighbourhood kids, especially a group they called The North End Boys. These were friendships that would last a lifetime.
After graduating from Fort Frances High School in 1976, he spent some time travelling out west with friends. This subsequenty resulted in a banishment from most hotels across Western Canada.
Upon returning to Fort Frances, Chuck started working for his uncle, Jim Gladu, in the forestry industry. This is where he learned his strong work ethic and his love for working in the bush. He worked for many different companies over the years, forming friendships everywhere he worked.
Chuck enjoyed the past four years operating a skidder for LCB Logging. Having the privilege to work outdoors and see for miles upon miles into the landscape is what he enjoyed most.
In 2000, Chuck was diagnosed with cancer. He was one the first recipients to undergo a stem cell transplant. It proved to be successful and he was given a second chance at life.
Chuck had a passion for the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He treasured his time spent at the family property at Banning Lake. Whether it was a day trip or one of the many legendary group trips, he always was there like a dirty shirt, offering knowledge to the young fellas and comedic relief for all. God help you if shot an animal and expected him to help.
The family felt it appropriate to mention Chuck’s guilty pleasure of “shooting the moon.” At family events, he took any opportunity to convince one of the kids to drop their pants and shoot the moon, especially when a photo was being taken. Apparently shooting the moon was a habit that continued throughout the years. We guess the moon just got bigger.
All you had to do was spend five minutes with Chuck and you formed a friendship. His personality was infectious, bigger than life, and one that you only come across once in a lifetime. He attributed his quick wit and sharp tongue as a matter of survival. He would say that you would not have survived our family if you couldn’t take it or dish it out. He managed to master his craft.
He had a huge heart, was a gentle giant, and was always there for you.
Nine years ago, he met his “partner in crime” Sue Carlson. Seeing them so happy together brought joy to us all. They usually fell off the map in the summer months as they spent most of their time on the “back dock” with their houseboat family.
Chuck especially enjoyed spending time with his stepchildren, Kurt, Mitch, Skylar, and new grandson, Liam. He took great joy in their ability to verbally spar with him and talked often of all the phrases he planned on teaching Liam.
Chuck was “Uncle Buck” to Courtney, Brodie, Abby, and Alissa. He was especially proud of the fact that they were terrified of him for most of their childhoods.
“Uncle Buck” had a special bond with Matt and Jason Goldamer. He took great pleasure in teaching them all his “tricks of the trade”–tricks he was quite excited about passing onto his grandson, Liam.
Chuck was predeceased by his father, David Armit.
He is survived by Sue Carlson; stepchildren, Kurtis and Mitch (Skylar) Carlson and grandson, Liam; mother, Bernice Armit; sisters, Debbie (Derrick) Lawres and Lisa (Todd) Plourde; nieces and nephew, Alissa (Jason), and Courtney, Brodie, and Abby; great nieces, Sophia and Livia; along with countless friends and other close family members.
Chuck was a husband, a stepfather, a grandfather, a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, and a cousin. Most importantly, though, he was a best friend to all of us. The memories that he left us with always will bring a smile to our face whenever we think of him. The following quote sums up Chuck’s philosophy on life:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow, what a ride!”
Thank you, Chuck, for taking us along for the ride with you.
A celebration of life was held on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Fort Frances, Ont.
In memoriam donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, or to a local charity of your choice c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com