Mr Comes was by far my favorite teacher ever. He inspired me to not only love history but to pursue it as a profession. Because of his influence I now have a bachelors, masters, and PhD in history. His legacy will live on. I’m sorry I just found out about his passing now. Prayers for your family. 

Chuck entered my life first as a teacher of my children. It became clear to me early on that Chuck wasn't a teacher of the common variety. Under his tutelage, my son gave forth his best. And while his years in high school were a bit challenging, not so in Mr. Comes's class. Chuck and my son were kindred spirits, traveling to the beat of a different drummer, you might say. Chuck was a profoundly gifted teacher and the effect he had on my son's life is still apparent to this day. 

Chuck was my colleague and friend. His love for my son introduced me to him and sealed our friendship. Sometimes, if we are blessed so, a person enters our life and leaves a beautiful impression that never goes away. I regret that Chuck wasn't in my life for a longer period of time. But then the time I spent with him, though short, was rich. Thanking God for blessing my children and I with the gift of Chuck Comes. 

Robert Lane
4/13/19 

Love for this man! I was hugely impacted by our Mr. Comes. He showed us ALL that you could be a mess and still be the best. His room was the cross-roads of MHS: freaks, preps, jocks, brains, losers, lovers, and me (the local ADHA spaz) were given a loving ear and WISE advice. Bro. Comes had problems that I will never understand, but that only magnified his openness to students. Because of him I went to Montana after graduation, love History (especially the French Revaluation), black Dodge pick-ups, and people who are NOT like me. Before I left for Africa he came to my church (his health was not good at the time) just to encourage and support me. He was my teacher in the class, at his house, eating Mexican food, camping with Mitch and Micheal, stealing firewood, giving me advise for life, or letting me sneak out of his class window. Chuck would have been a celebrated Guru, Swami, Shaman, or Mystic. But, Alas, we don't have those in Tipton County. He got as close as he could; he became a High School teacher. He tried to make his philosophy fit American pedagogy while, at the same time, fighting his own internal demons. It was a messy life. Honestly, he gave us better than he gave himself sometimes. He was hard on himself but so gracious to us. I don't know how he did it all and how he kept it together for so long. I miss him. He was my HERO, not because he tried to me, but because he valued me. To him I was NOT a miss-fit, I was AWESOME, worthy of respect that some other teachers couldn't muster. I know I was a behavior problem in High School and my grades sucked. But you know what? I worked my butt off for Mr Comes. For him I would make nothing but an "A". I would not, I will not let him down. I cared about him because he LOVED me and you without reservation. Yes, he made mistakes, but MAN when he got it right...you wanted to be around because that is when your life was about to exchange an old way of living for a better philosophy of life.

Charles Comes was more than a teacher. He was a mentor. He was our Uncle Chuck. Because of him, I became the person I am today. Some of my favorite and many of my most difficult lessons came from him. 
I met a girl who sang the blues.
You can't go back to Constantinople.
Rush is the greatest rock band in the history of music.
Don't lift weights in barns. You are mighty; the barn is weak.
The only fix for too much cumin is laughter and saltines.
Stand your ground when you're right.
Humble yourself when you're wrong.
Redeem yourself when you've wronged someone.

Uncle Chuck, you have left behind a legacy that will continue to influence people forever. I hope that we can continue to make you proud. Long live the shell. Long live King Comes!!!

Mr. Comes was more than the best teacher I ever had. He was a coach, a confidant, a comedian, a reluctant but fair disciplinarian, a fellow thespian , a travel companion and most importantly my friend. I miss him. 

You were the best Uncle Chuck. I’ll always remember you. 

Mr. Comes came to Munford High School in the early 90’s.  I had him for history and just loved him.  He was so kind and fair.  Though I still have nightmares about the endless  poster size maps of the world he had us make.  If am ever on a game show and the million dollar question is about the name of a country or its capital I’ll be rollin’ in cash thanks to Mr. Comes.  The best was when he thought we needed a break so he would wheel in the TV/VCR and make us watch Rush live in concert then deliver an impassioned lecture about how they were the greatest band in history.  Woe to he who dared disagree! He brought that same passion and zeal into his history lessons and we just loved him for it.   He was tough, but fair.  Kind, but no push-over.  He truly cared about his students and was passionate about his curriculum.  He inspired us  with his zeal and in return we wanted to do the very best work we could so we didn’t let him down.  (Even when painstakingly drawing a huge, detailed, color coded map that devoured markers and crippled hands😁) Thanks for everything Mr. Comes. You were one of the greats and I pray my children will be lucky enough to have a teacher like you some day.  Surely the angels greeted you with a much deserved  Rush tune when you entered the pearly gates.  You’ve earned it!

Mr. Comes was by far my favorite teacher. I had him for Drama. I won't forget the day he drew me aside and said, "You should be at Julliard. The world isn't as small as it is in high school. What you are here isn't close to what you could be." The encouragement, the warmth, and the humor that man taught me were some of the most important things I took with me. He will be sorely missed. My dearest condolences.

From playing Neil Young songs at homecoming, to World History classes, to hiking several places in Tennessee, Chuck was always the teacher, mentor, and friend.  

I was alway amazed at his insight, and genuinely enjoyed being around him.  From the quote on the board, "What is past, is Prologue", to meeting Sidhartha,  the Rottweiler on the trail out side Sparta, to learning about black bears in Big South Fork.  You taught me history, you taught me backpacking, but most of all, you taught me that it is okay to stand amongst the crowd and just be.    The dude abides.

Rest in peace my friend.

This man showed, you did not have to fit into the version of what society and environment dictated to be the norm and what was acceptable. 
This man built young individuals into adult individuals. 
This man provided encouragement when there was none from any other place. 
He was no saint but he was exactly what he was attempting to promote in all of his students no matter how different they may have seemed, an individual who stood on his own. This man was a guiding light in a dark place for many.

When the established parties at be attempted to deem me as a troubled youth and remove me from the public school system, this man wrote a multi page paper to be presented at a hearing for my defense. In which he called out the establishment as the problem, he blamed a system focused on standardized testing and focused on numbers as the reason I was being targeted. Some may believe it, some may not, but he was correct in my opinion. This man gave me a faith and confidence in myself that has never gone away. He gave us “freaks” a safe haven, not only in a way where we felt comfortable in our own skin he protected us and had our back in a way no other teacher did but in a way all teachers should. 

This man was not without his faults but a lack of caring and compassion and consideration was not one of them. 

Rest In Peace Mr. Comes......

The best teacher I ever had.  The #1 reason why I chose the teaching profession. 

 I remember listening to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel and breaking down the lyrics because much of it related to our history class content.  I remember him acting out using British accents the Revolutionary War period.  I remember our class competition each day before a test to help us review.  I remember his special paddle he kept up on a mantle....never saw him use it but he always reminded us where it was.  

I don’t remember much about other teachers and their classes....that’s how much an effect he had on me.  

Thank you for being such a fantastic teacher.  Prayers to his family.  

Oh Chuck, I’m so sad.  I pray you are at rest knowing how many students you counseled  and helped influence over the years. We only saw each other in the teachers lounge, but you were a good guy. 

My sincere sympathy to those you left behind. 

You knew me as Beth Baker but I’m now Beth Creed. 

May you RIP. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Mr. Comes had a giant personality. He was so full of life and he really brought out the best in his students. He was one of my favorite teachers. In the link I’m sharing, he has a nice little cameo at 15:35. He made everything up on the spot! He will be missed!

https://youtu.be/RdR6lgfXjso

Back in high school I was very shy and lacked confidence.  Of all the teachers I had, Mr Comes made a big impression on me.  I had him as a teacher, but I was also in FTA because I wanted to teach.  My senior year he made me pose for pictures for the yearbook.  Now I can look back and I have those memories.  For a few years I always went up to the high school just to see him.  He always had the biggest smile when I showed up.  He will definitely be missed.

Prayers for your family and friends. Mr Comes was very sweet always had a smile on his face he will truly be missed. To the Comes family I send you all prayers for comfort in the up coming weeks.

Dad and I had one of the hardest relationships I’ve ever seen between a father and son.

He loved me, so much so that it at times got in the way of our mutual  goals for me.


Of all the memories I could share, the one I remember best is one of my many shows.


I was performing with School of Rock Memphis, and while I normally was a drummer, I got to rap one my favorite Linkin Park songs (A Place For My Head).

While my focus was mainly on the crowd, I found this picture from that particular moment when he had the epiphany that I was meant for the stage.

Ever since then he made sure that I knew that he believed in me.

Unfortunately I have issues with believing in my self.

I often wish I could have known him from his Mumford days, but he always made sure that at the end of the day that I knew he believed in me.


Love Ya Bud, tell Pal and my grandfathers I miss y’all and Love y’all.


I once was a hard headed teen who lacked self confidence in myself and did not see the value in education.  One afternoon I brought my discharge paperwork to a special teacher’s room to have him sign so I could drop out of school. He immediately stopped his class, got a teacher to take over for him and took me out to his truck. That day I watched tears roll down his eyes as he expressed his love for me and his unwillingness to let me give up. From that day forward he mentored me becoming one of the most influential men in my life. 
His influence guided me through high school, my bachelors degree and my masters. I have worked with troubled teens for 19 years and became a therapist helping others and trying to show young men the same love that was shown to me.  
As I reflect I can only thing of the lives that were changed and influenced by this one man. The butterfly effect of his love through me and the other hard headed kids he was able to reach!
Thank You Mr. Comes!!! 

Comes shaped me in ways I wasn't aware of until later in my life. I wish I had taken the time to tell him that sooner.  We always think that we have all the time in the world, until we don't.  My condolences to the family. He really was an amazing person. 

OBITUARY

Charles King Comes

12 June, 1954 – 26 March, 2019

Memphis Funeral Home

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