Charles Eric Phelps

"There is more to life than simply increasing its speed." - Mahatma Gandhi

For those of us who knew Charlie well, you probably knew he did not own a cell phone until about the past few years, and many were puzzled, and perhaps, even amused by this. Even after his wife, Jennifer bought him one, he only used it on a regular basis when she became pregnant with their only child, Bridget, for fear he might miss the call to hear that the baby was on her way. Charlie, a computer science graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi, was not a technophobe by any means of the imagination. He spent the early part of his career at EDS connected to a pager nearly 24 hours a day and came to the conclusion, that life is too short to always be a slave to technology, which many people have become, forgetting how to enjoy solitude, personal pursuits, and time with loved ones.

Charlie relished his individual time playing guitar (acoustic, bass, and Rickenbacker), recording and mixing music, collecting and viewing classic horror 8 mm films, collecting Beatles music and memorabilia, viewing British comedies, and reading biographies and fiction. He shared his love of music with his friends and family often and enjoyed playing acoustic guitar for his daughter Bridget who would often bounce to his rendition of The Ramones, "Teenage Lobotomy". With Jennifer, an English teacher, he would frequently share his love of Victorian authors, Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Charlie Phelps was the second son of Talmadge and Mavis Phelps, of McComb, Mississippi and the much loved younger brother of Gene Phelps of Tupelo, MS. He graduated from McComb High School in 1983 and went on to pursue a bachelor of science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Dallas where he worked for Electronic Data Systems, Nortel, and then finally J.C. Penney Corporate Headquarters until his passing.

In July of 2002, he met his wife Jennifer, and they were married in 2003. Together they shared not only their love of film and literature, but also their love of cooking together in the kitchen and recreating recipes they had from favorite restaurants and from places they had traveled together. In 2011, their family grew by one with the addition of a very beloved daughter, Bridget Kathryn Phelps, the apple of her father's eye. He was even tickled this spring when Bridget, held by her mother, pointed to him and squealed, "Mama!" To this, he very sagely replied to Jennifer, "I will take that as a mark of high esteem."

Charlie's 47 years were short, but were filled with much love and laughter with friends and family, even during this spring after his brave battle with cancer. Charlie passed away in his home on Sunday, July 8th, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.

Charlie is survived by his wife Jennifer Morgan Phelps and daughter Bridget Kathryn Phelps, of McKinney, Texas; his parents, Talmadge and Mavis Phelps of McComb, Mississippi; his brother Gene Phelps and wife, Nancy of Tupelo, Mississippi; nephew Bart Phelps and wife Andrea of Tupelo, Mississippi and their 3 sons: Carson, Collin, and Canton; Barbara Phelps-Mabry and husband, Jermaine of Tupelo, Mississippi and their sons: Cooper and Creed; mother-in-law, Peggy Morgan of Osceola, Arkansas; sister-in-law Amy Morgan of Fort Worth; sister-in-law, Sarah White and nephew Morgan Russell and Marleigh White, all of Wilson, Arkansas.

An afternoon memorial will be held for Charlie Phelps on Saturday, July 14th from 2-4 P.M. at Allen Family Funeral Options where family members and friends may drop in to visit family and friends to honor Charlie's life.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial savings account has been established for his daughter Bridget at Viewpoint Bank or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.