Charmin' Charlie Sipes

Tennessee State Champion Fiddler

Obituary

Obituary for Charlie Sipes

On Saturday, July 17, Charlie Sipes passed away peacefully at Sand Ridge, his home for 87 years and the place he called “The Garden Spot of the World.” Charlie had a wonderful life and enjoyed it tremendously. He was born in Juno, the youngest of three children. He attended Sand Ridge School and grew up surrounded by friends and family. His bachelor days ended when he met young Peggy Holt on the square in 1957. Married in 1961, they would have celebrated 60 happy years of marriage in October of this year. Charlie was a talented musician.

At age 14, he heard a record of Tommy Jackson fiddling “Black Mountain Rag” at the Henderson County Fair, and his fiddling career began. Within three weeks, he taught himself to fiddle and was playing on the local radio station. Soon after that he won his first fiddler’s contest. Dubbed “Charmin’ Charlie” by his fans, he went on to become a champion fiddler who entertained at square dances and with country bands all over West Tennessee for over 60 years. He served as Grand Marshal of the Holladay Bluegrass and Fiddlers’ Jamboree, and was honored by the Sardis Fiddler’s Contest for 40 consecutive years of participation.

In addition to music, Charlie loved and could fix anything with wheels. As a kid, he had a bike that he painted a different color every week. In his early twenties, his beloved 1950 Oldsmobile had every accessory he could add to it. Tinkering with his own cars turned into a lifelong career. He started repairing cars in his father’s blacksmith shop, and opened Charlie Sipes Garage in 1955. He worked as a mechanic for more than half a century, gaining a reputation for integrity and skill. Even after he retired, he continued to tinker, restoring tractors and Studebakers in his shop at home.

No one has ever loved the place where they lived more than Charlie. To him, there was no better place in the world than Sand Ridge. As a young talented baseball player, he was invited to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. He declined (much to his father’s dismay), because it would have meant leaving Sand Ridge. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Cager and Minnie Sipes; his sister, Elvie Lee Melton, and his brother, Guy Henry Sipes. He leaves his wife, Peggy Holt Sipes, his daughter Charleyn Sipes Reviere (Rusty), and his grandsons Charles Connor Reviere and Grant Reviere, all of whom adored him.

He leaves several nieces and nephews, including a special niece Patsy Melton, and many friends and fellow musicians with whom he played over the years. Charlie always loved animals, and was preceded by his beloved bird dog Bowser, a mutt named Smoochie, and a very talkative mynah bird, Toby. Visitation and funeral services will be at Reed’s Chapel in Lexington. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, July 21 at 11 am, with burial to follow at Sand Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday evening, July 20 from 6 pm to 9 pm and on Wednesday, July 21 from 9 am until service.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Charlie’s love of animals, the family asks for memorial donations to the Frances Hensley Animal Shelter.