Charles Edward Sikes 77, of Fredericktown, died Friday, May 11 at home. He was born February 14, 1935 on Rhodes Mountain in the Piney Creek Community in rural Madison County. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Edward and Virgie Anna (Pruett) Sikes, on infant sister Virginia, brothers-in-law Bryan Shetley and Gene Sanders, one sister-in-law Sheila Sikes, and niece Gayla Lynn (Pogue) Rice. Surviving are his wife of 56 years Barbara Ann (Hovis), son Kenneth Dale (Sherri) Sikes and grandson Andrew Sikes. Brother John David Sikes, sisters Barbara Loverta (Garry) Pogue Sr., Patricia Ann Shetley, Reva Marie Sanders, Velma (Louise) Bill Osborne; nephews and nieces Garry Lee (Karen) Pogue Jr., John Kelly Sikes, Timothy Edward (Nancy) Sikes, Christopher Leo Sikes, Natalie Diane Rehkop (Steve) Shetley, James Walter (Sarah) Ammon, Billy (Heather) Osborne, and Kessie Marie (Osborne) Hinkle.
Charles was an outdoor person with a long family history of hunting and fishing, a trait he passed on to his grandson Andrew, but his main interest was working on Ford tractors and farm equipment. During many years of working for Jerry Bennett at Bennett/Smith Ford Incorporated there was hardly a tractor or square hay baler in Madison County he had not worked on. Charles' interest in tractors has since caused him to be known as the tractor man.

VISITATION; 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M. MONDAY AT THE FOLLIS AND SONS FUNERAL HOME

FUNERAL SERVICE; 11:00 A.M. TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012 AT THE FOLLIS AND SONS CHAPEL

OFFICIATING; PASTOR TOM JOHNSON & DR. LINDELL SIKES

INTERMENT; OAK GROVE CEMETERY

PALLBEARERS; STEVE REHKOP, JEREMY REHKOP, KEVIN HOVIS, CAREY HOVIS, BILLY OSBORNE, ANDREW SIKES