Individual Details

Death

Charles Morgan Abbott, 58, known to friends as "Charley", died unexpectedly on Oct. 2, due to diabetic complications. God provided that he was surrounded by his loving family. Charley was born to Elizabeth and James Bates Abbott, III, in November 1950 in Atlanta, GA. His family moved extensively as his father, a civil engineer, built locks and dams across the country. Charley graduated from Emory University and attended graduate school at the University of Florida, Warrington School of Business. He has been an active and involved resident of Naples since 1975. Charley was the devoted husband of Linda Abbott for 33 years and a very proud father of his sons, Travis Sims, 19, and Forrest Lee, 17 years. He worked for the Florida Auditor General and the National Park Service, and then became a contractor, operating several construction businesses throughout his career. Charley was extremely proud to work for the past several years for Clerk of Courts Dwight Brock, a man whom he greatly admired. Charley was involved in so many activities including Rotary, Scouting – Troop 2 and Explorer Post 1838, the Collier Building Industry Association, he was a great fan of the Collier County Library, and was devoted to the Collier County Museum through Living History. He was a great outdoorsman who loved to boat, fish, hunt, and camp. Charley touched so many lives ~ he never met a stranger. He thrived on his many friendships, all of which he considered to be close and very special, as evidenced by the blessings of love and support for his family during this time of grief. He greatly prized the qualities of honor and integrity, he cherished family, loved to make others laugh, always extended a helping hand, and was a man of many words whose thoughts were never subject to interpretation. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda, his fine sons, Travis and Forrest; mother, Elizabeth Furr Abbott of St. Augustine; brother, James "Jimmy" (Michelle) Abbott, of Naples; sister, Elizabeth "Beth" Abbott, of Gainesville; and mother-in-law, Alice Trullinger of Marco Island; first cousin, Franklin Miller Garrett of Atlanta; and extended family, Frank "Tom" Foster of Naples; Karen and Todd Crisp of Los Angeles; Ramona Howell Trullinger of Chattahoochee, FL; Roy Ems of Thomasville, GA; Kelly Bresslin of Red Hill, NM; his God-daughter, Alyssa Cerckleski; and he adored his many nieces and nephews and his new great niece. He was preceded in death by his father, James Bates Abbott, III; his brother, John "Johnny" Abbott; father-in-law, Leonard Lee Trullinger; brother-in-law, Michael Alan Trullinger; and sister-in-law, Ann "Annie" Foster. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of a memorial contribution may be made to the Moorings Presbyterian Church or to Travis and Forrest Abbott, Custodial Education Account. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at Moorings Presbyterian Church on Harbour Drive.
Published in Naples Daily News from October 6 to October 9, 2009