Charles "Charlie" Lewis Mott, of Lakeland, FL, passed away on April 29 th , 2025 at the age of 80.

Charlie was born in Bradenton on August 7 th , 1944, graduated from Lakeland High School, and married his high school sweetheart, Elaine in 1963. He then served in the Army in Vietnam, learned surveying and road construction in the engineering division and volunteered as assistant chaplain. Back at home, he became active in his church by serving as Sunday School Director and coached both the basketball team and the softball team.

Good sportsmanship was his top priority, and he was well respected by his players and their opponents. Charlie was proud to be a bridge builder by trade. He enjoyed pointing out his projects to family whenever he could. Because Charlie was a faithful husband and father and did not drink or smoke, his crew once ordered him a glass of milk at a restaurant bar to tease him.

Unbothered, he offered up a toast and tossed it back with a smile. Charlie was passionate about gardening and fishing and 'taking a ride' around central Florida. Many Saturdays were spent on short road trips in the car with the family that always included a stop at a store for a Diet Coke. He loved growing green beans, black eyed peas and strawberries, and especially loved sharing his crops with neighbors and friends.

He loved his property and his pond. He often frightened his children by driving his tractor into the pond to "clean it out," and he loved seeing the grandchildren drag their fathers by the hand to fish and see the wildlife there. Most of all, he loved Elaine. She was his very best friend, faithful companion, and garden helper.

His life was never the same after losing her to Leukemia in 2011. In addition to Elaine, he was preceded in death by his mother Velma Jean. He is survived by his three daughters, Vickie (Wes) Reid, Pam (David) Cash, and Tricia (Rhett) Strickland; nine grandchildren, Charlie (Sarah), Chelsea, Shelby (Granger), and Chad Reid, Christopher (Sara) and Jessica (Nick) Cash, Laina, Kacee, and Cale Strickland; six great-grandchildren; as well as his sister, Gail Myhand; and brother, Ronnie Mott.