Charles Phee

Charles "Charlie" F. Phee, 69, of Centralia, passed away at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at his sisters home in Springfield. Charlie was born on January 10, 1950, in Centralia, the son of Francis and Eleanor Keenan Phee. He married Sheila Evans on April 29, 1991, in Ellicott City, MD. Charlie attended St. Marys Grade School and graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, WI. He earned his bachelors degree in Political Science from SIU in Carbondale and his J.D. at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Charlie was an attorney in private practice in Centralia and later worked at Georgetown University in Washington, DC as an immigration specialist. He most recently was employed at Greenview Golf Course in Centralia. Charlie was an avid Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He earned his pilots license and loved flying. As a kid growing up in Centralia, he enjoyed horseback riding and barrel-racing. Charlie was a decorated junior golfer who learned the game at Meadow Woods Country Club in Centralia. He maintained a low handicap into late middle age. He played many of the countrys great courses and was an amateur historian of golfs Golden Age-Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino and Ken Venturis historic U.S. Open win at Congressional Country Club in 1964, the story of which he loved to recount. Charlie had a wonderful impact on the people around him because of his charm, charisma, and generosity. While he could be brash and opinionated, he was a warm and loyal friend who loved his golfing buddies and work friends at Greenview, his long-time grade school friends, his many cousins and his brothers-in-law. He was a wonderful father and loved teaching his kids, arguing with them about politics and sports, and telling stories about his many adventures. As a child and young man, he had traveled the Midwest with his father, and he retained a great affection for its smaller cities and communities. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Catherine Phee; brother, James Phee; and brother-in-law, Nelson Ashline. He is survived by his wife, Sheila Evans-Phee of Centralia; sons, Theodore Charles Phee (Besa Tetova) of Chicago and Sean Keenan Phee (Josephine Foong) of New York, NY; grandson, Ari; siblings, Margaret "Peggy" Ashline of Springfield, Deborah Clarke (Bob Plante) and Jane Rollinson, both of Vero Beach, FL; as well as several nephews, nieces and cousins. He was very close to his nephew, James Clarke, whom he mentored as a teenager and they remained close throughout his life. Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center. The family will host a Celebration of Life at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 2016 S. Commercial St., Centralia IL, 62801.