Charles Ray Hogan

Charles Ray Hogan, 81, of Leoma TN. passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Born June 5, 1944, in Placerville, California. Chuck was raised in Citrus Heights, which in those days was field after field of open spaces, oak trees, winding streams, and the occasional deteriorating barn. A wonderland of adventure for a curious young boy and his pals to explore. Born with a keen aptitude for all things mechanical Buddy was forever in the process of building or overhauling anything from crude wooden carts, unique bicycles or “designer” scooters. He built a pair of stilts so tall he had to mount them from the front porch roof of the family home.

Buddy’s Sacramento Bee paper route afforded him the funds to buy his first vehicle… a Sears Roebuck go cart. Then, there were various makeshift tote goats, a whizzer motorized bicycle retrieved, which he restored from friends’ junk piles. He eventually stepped up to a Vespa motor scooter, which proved to be the first of a very long list of dirt bikes, road bikes, enduro bikes, not to mention the many dune buggies, rupsters, and sand rails. Many of which he built from scratch or modified to meet “Chuck Standards”.

At the ripe old age of 13 Chuck bought his first car: a 1931 Model A Ford for the grand sum of $25.00. (He had to peddle a lot of newspapers to come up with that kind of money). Buddy promptly employed a lot of elbow grease, an old brush and an unmarked can of glossy black “paint”. The result was a nearly new looking 1931 Model A… Charles Hogan had never been prouder. (As it turned out he only thought this was the end result) … Imagine young Buddy’s dismay when he discovered the contents of the mysterious “paint” can proved to be roofing tar. The car was later sandblasted. Charles sold the car to a cousin only to buy it back a short time later. He often lamented … “Only if I’d kept it that time”. Another purchase around the same time was a 1940s sedan for $6.00. That was short lived as his dad insisted on only one car at a time at his young age.

As his interests expanded beyond the mechanical world handsome, young Chuck started noticing the young ladies. To impress the girls, he bought a flashy yellow/green 1951 Ford Convertible and then a sporty 1953 Ford Victoria. On a most memorable occasion a 19-year-old Chuck in his shiny cream-colored Ford Victoria pulled into the A&W Root Beer stand in Roseville where he was greeted by a beautiful little blonde car hop. Forget the Root Beer…. Hello Pam! From then on, the pair started making memories.

After a whirlwind courtship they were married in a small ceremony on Pam’s 18th birthday, October 4, 1963, at Chapel of the Bells in Reno, NV. (Their son, Chuck Jr. and Mona were married in the same chapel years later). In 1964 the Hogan household increased to three with the birth of Baby Charles Tod and with the arrival of Michelle Christine seven years later the family was complete. Always together the little foursome enjoyed frequent getaways camping in the mountains, riding sand dunes at Pismo… and so many motorhome trips pulling a trailer piled high with dune buggies and three wheelers.

When young Michelle was almost 16, Chuck and Chuck Jr. took on a project 1966 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia for her first car. This bonding project with his son, and gift for his daughter, was a fond memory for all the family. Michelle even got to pick the color they would paint the car; she chose her favorite hot pink lipstick.

As time came to pass Chuck often found solitude in the mountains of northern California panning for gold in the American River Canyons.

Turns out, those early times were just practice runs for when the real fun started as the grandkids came along. Mallory was the first to change the identities of Chuck and Pam to Grandma and Papa. The spunky little curly-haired gal wasted no time winning their hearts. Just when they thought life couldn’t get better it did when CJ, the third Charles, appeared on the scene. Lively and all boy, Papa never tired of teaching him to be the best little man he could be. Tabitha was the next grandchild to bring Grandma and Papa both pride and joy with her beautiful singing voice and endless energy. Rusty soon followed with his big blue eyes and impish grin bringing the total number of cousins to four. Papa shared his love for the outdoors with each of his four grandchildren. Whether through a walk in the woods pointing out nature’s beauty or the many nights he shared sky gazing with each of them.

Papa wasted no time in creating playhouses for the girls, a treehouse, and gas station for the boys. Each one as grand as the grandchild he built it for. If asked who the favorite grandchild of Grandma and Papa was, there’s no doubt four hands would confidently reach high. Each one of the four would be absolutely right for the love of Grandma and Papa that knows no bounds. They’ll forever love each one the same.

Later, His move to Tennessee came after his children and grandchildren moved first. Even though Buddy hated to leave his mother and brother’s family he made a point to call them often, if not daily. He enjoyed these calls with his mother Betty and his brother Randy, it helped the miles not seem so long.

There’s one more little Hogan we don’t want to forget. Yes, he too, is named Charles, the fourth in fact. A newcomer to the family at only eight months old he’s found his place in the hearts of not only Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, but the entire Hogan clan: Daddy CJ, Mommy Grace, Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Mona, Auntie Mallory, Uncle Sebastian, Great Auntie Michelle, Cousin Tabitha and Cousin Rusty.

Buddy loved to laugh and shared his humor with his family. He had many inside jokes with the grandchildren. Even during his recent years with all the medical visits, he would constantly make jokes with the staff caring for him.

Buddy was a man of many talents and passions. (Many of which he handed down his Hogan line). He was an accomplished tile setter, brick mason, and a remodeler of houses. He freely shared his many skills with family and friends.

Buddy loved meticulously maintaining his home and grounds even when his declining health made the tasks a challenge. He felt blessed to share his beautiful Tennessee Hogan Hilltop with his loving family. He so appreciated their care and acts of love during his long illness. During which Chuck Jr. became the on-call handy man, and Mona served as the able advocate when it came to hard medical decisions. Her tasty home cooked meals were greatly appreciated! Michelle was ever present to cheer her mom with a trip to the secondhand store or mocha shop. Frequent meals out and drives through the park brought both Chuck and Pam a lot of pleasure. Pam faithfully drove him to and from dialysis and local appointments. The family filling in during bad weather and for long-distance appointments. He was indeed a trooper through it all, and very seldom complaining about his lot.

In addition to his immediate family, Charles is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Randy and Reanne Guild, their family, and a host of extended family and his dear friends. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Frank and Betty Guild, his birth father, Ralph Hogan and his brother, Ronald Hogan. Oh how we’ll miss our “Buddy”!