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By Jeremy Clarkson It was June 2009 when I was first introduced to Charles Criniere in the library at Grandview High School. I was a new teacher getting ready to start my career, and we were at the school to work on the curriculum for the week. My earliest impression of Charles was that he seemed very happy and upbeat. Whenever asked a question, he would always smile while explaining something he had been doing with his family since school ended. Charles played a big part in my earliest years as a teacher. Some of my first two years brought a lot of challenges, as any new teacher has. I wasn't always sure I could handle the overwhelming feeling of being a new teacher. I would go to Charles to get advice or just some encouragement. Occasionally, I would stop by Charles' room, and he would stop what he was doing and say, "Hey, kids! Do you know Mr. Clarkson? He is the best Algebra teacher in the school!" Charles was the best at building others up! He knew what to say to make you feel like, whatever you did, you were the best at it. I gained a lot of self-confidence in my teaching abilities in my first two years working with Charles. We both taught Algebra 1 in summer school, compared notes, and discussed how things went each day. Charles and I left Grandview High School for different reasons, but it was a blessing that we both found ourselves back at GHS a few years later. Criniere saw me one day in a meeting and said, "There is Mr. Clarkson. The LeBron James of Grandview High School!" Not to be outdone, I countered my friend's claim by labeling Charles as "The Wayne Gretzky of GHS" (since Gretzky is known as "The Great One"). I cannot tell you how many times we called each other these over the years. In April 2018, I went with Charles to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Conference in Washington, DC. It was such an exciting time since I knew being with Charles would be an adventure. I was fortunate to attend the NCTM Conference at the last minute in place of a co-worker who could not attend. Unfortunately, since we could not get the registration changed before the conference, I had to wear the name badge of our colleague. There we were, walking around the conference, and I had this big badge on, but it displayed our co-worker's name instead of mine. Charles could not stop laughing every time he saw it. Over the next three days, whenever we met someone, I would introduce myself as our co-worker, then notice Charles would have this huge grin on his face and laugh. Whenever we would walk away, Charles would say, "Oh Clarkson! You're too much!" Much of our trip involved me finding new ways to make Charles laugh. I remember we went on a trip to see the White House, and then we decided to walk back to the hotel. As we walked, I would find a place and say, "Hey Charles, why don't we go and stop there for a bit!" Charles would laugh and shake his head at me and decline. Even though I knew he would refuse, I kept asking just to hear him laugh. The Covid Pandemic changed a lot of how things worked in education for a while, including us at Grandview. We seemed to instantly transition into doing everything on Zoom. During the pandemic, I started playing this game with Charles, seemingly to try to make him laugh. We would be in a meeting on Zoom, and I would find myself holding up notecards on my screen. The cards said, "Criniere 2021: Make Algebra Great Again!" I would hold up the cards until Charles noticed. Sometimes, he was so focused it would take him a minute. But eventually, he saw what I was doing and would shake his head and smile. Every time this happened, I couldn't help but start laughing. Later, after the meetings, I would run into Criniere, and he would give me his usual, "Oh, Clarkson! You're too much!" Since we returned to Grandview, I expected that Charles and I would work together for the next 20 years. I would always talk to him about how we were the two young guys in the Math Department when we started, but soon, we would be the two old guys who had been teaching forever. I always pictured that we would be two guys who could retire at any given year but keep teaching. Charles began teaching at Martin City Middle School in 2021, where he was taking on the new challenge of teaching middle school. I remember sitting with him at a football game that year, talking about school and seeing how happy he was with how things were going. Criniere loved the kids and his co-workers so much! His classes were going better than ever. He was so happy to be able to enjoy a new challenge and a new environment. But I was also jealous to teach with him again, so I told Charles I needed him back at the High School to "Make Algebra Great Again!" I remember a moment at the beginning of this year when we were about to have our meetings. I passed Charles in the hallway but eventually turned around and went back to give him a big hug. It wasn't new that I would hug him. I just wanted to hug him, tell him I missed him, and chat with him for a few minutes. Charles was a big part of my career, and I always believed we would teach together for decades. But, like so many others, I was blessed to have that unique friendship with Criniere where it felt like I could make him laugh no matter what. Everyone loved his special laugh! I hope to honor Charles and the legacy he left in our school and community through my efforts and continued service to our community. I hope he's continually looking down on my work, smiling and laughing at me like he always did. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for always doing what you could to make me feel special and build me up, even when I wasn't sure about myself. I love you Charles Criniere. - Jeremy Clarkson

"Charlie loved prayer more than anything" - Ryan Corrigan I met Charlie in 2006 in an overflow parking lot coming to a church service. Instantly Charlie and I launched into a deep conversation about Jesus. From the moment I met him I knew that he walked in a nearness to God that was extremely rare. After only knowing him for a few months Charlie and Megan gave us $1,000 dollars to pay off a debt! At that time we were all about 25 years old a nd we had never heard of anyone giving away that kind of money. But that was the kind of person Charlie was. His love and generosity flowed freely from him as a constant. I am sure there are 1000's of other stories of his generosity. Charlie and I and our families were in various small groups together over the years. For a few years we were in this evangelism group. Every Wednesday Charlie and I, and 4 -5 others would go out onto the streets and share the Gospel. Charlie used to say that I was 'fire' and he was 'fragrance' because of how he would balance me out when I was getting overzealous. Over the years, I most often saw Charlie alone early in the morning in the prayer room but I cherished the times when I was able to be with him, Megan, and the whole family. I remember a time helping his family move from one house to another and watching him interact with his kids with such love and affection. At one point one of the kids was carrying a box and he startled tickling her which ended up into a full blown wrestling match. I can still hear the echos of that laughter. He had a very special laugh. I always left those times feeling so encouraged to be a better husband and father. But by far what defined my friendship with Charlie more than anything else - was prayer. Charlie was a such a man of prayer. Prayer was probably the thing that Charlie sought after the most in his life. He was a man who just wanted to be with Jesus. For years, I would drag myself into the prayer room early in the morning and Charlie was always there before me. He would most often be pacing, holding his small, very warn Bible, folded open, praying the scriptures. He would see me, come over, give me a big hug, and launch straight into unpacking one of the Psalms. Most of the time we would skip any introduction and he would start praying for me which was as if God himself was speaking directly to my spirit. Every time I was with Charlie the presence and power of the Holy Spirit was striking. I can remember one night 15 years ago after a church service. Charlie and I were standing alone in the parking lot and we started praying, and it was as if time stood still. It went on for over 2 hours. It was a such a marking spiritual encounter with God that it literally changed my life. Some of the things he prayed over me were so profound and so deep that I still think about them to this day. Charlie’s heart burned as a preacher and teacher of God's word. But I watched him lay down his ambitions of doing full-time ministry and he become a school teacher. This was a hard decision at first but once he got in the classroom he absolutely fell in love with his students. I can't tell you how many times we cried out to God for the transformation of his students, their families, and the schools. On a few occasions I went up to Grandview High School to help him facilitate christian school club meetings and I was blown away at the impact he was having. Charlie was far more than a teacher he was a father to so many more than his own children. I feel like I could go on and on. Charlie always had a smile on his face, He was always laughing, he wore his hat on a little crooked, I can’t every remember hearing Charlie complain. He was a constant encourager. I remember the way he lovingly adored his wife, and the way his kids fought to sit in his lap. He was a very articulate and gifted communicator. And most importantly he laid his life down daily, as a servant, to improve the lives of those around him. I am forever marked by the life of Charlies Criniere. He carried a torch to bring the gospel to the next generation, and though it will be impossible to fill the void he is leaving, it is now our turn to continue living out his legacy of faith and family till Jesus is glorified in every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Charlie we love you and we miss you and we will do our best by God’s grace to continue the work that you began. but thanks be to God that this isn’t goodbye. For on that Glorious day the dead in Christ shall be raised and we will be together with you forever. And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and we will all sing together, “O, death were is your sting," and "O, grave where is your victory.” May God answer every prayer that Charlie every prayed, May God send revival to the youth of our nation! And May God uphold Megan and each of his precious children till the very end.

An overview of a truly glorious life by Megan Criniere I am not one for writing for a public audience, but love makes you do crazy things so here I am. Charlie has always had a way of convincing me to do things that I didn’t really want to do. He was always pushing me and our kids outside our comfort zones and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Like when he took our family up the scenic route at rocky mount national park in a 12 passenger van, even after we all said NO. But he was driving and we were all captive passengers on the side of a mountain so up we went. Peering down over the side of the mountain (that had no guard rails to catch you if you fall), seeing signs that said caution all along the road. The kids in the back screaming out “are we going to die?” And “can we fall off the side?" I wish he could see me right now. Being brave, facing my fears and letting God use me even in my weakest state. He would be my biggest cheerleader in the front row. He was always so proud of me for overcoming my fears and always telling me I am the strongest woman he knows. I’ll miss his constant encouragement and reminding me who I really am according to how God sees me. When I sat down to write this, and I struggled to fit such an abundant life into such few words, I decided that there was no better way to honor Charlie than to give you a glimpse of what his life looked like on a daily basis. His life was simple. His days were filled with hard work and lots of repetitive tasks, but he learned to do the small things with lots of love, and that made all the difference. He sometimes struggled with it, feeling like he wasn't going anywhere, not accomplishing enough, and not impacting enough people. But judging by the number of people I have heard from, I know he is looking down from heaven and seeing the fruit of his labor, and that makes me so proud of him. On most days, he got up before the sun came up. At 5:15, his alarm went off, and then he was off to the prayer room. His greatest joy was to be in God's presence and experience the love God poured into his heart; I'm glad he is still doing that right now. Then pulling out his laminated prayer list, he would pray for me and our kids, then students and colleagues, family and friends, the community, the government, and any other need that came to mind. He was greatly concerned for other people's needs, but he prayed with a unique fervor for his children and students. Most times, he lingered as long as possible, treasuring every moment before his day started. He knew that nothing he had to offer could transform anyone's life. Jesus was his life source, and he listened carefully to the instructions and directions he found in the bible every day. He left the prayer room filled with God's love and presence, went to work, and unleashed that love on the world around him. He would speak words of encouragement, share his lunch, lend a helping hand, and pass out absurd amounts of candy to students. He would avail himself when needed and often brought home his lunch bag completely full because he tutored kids on his lunch hour instead of eating. He would pray with anyone in need, no matter where he was or who was around. He worked hard to be a great teacher so he could help his students reach their highest potential. When he came home, there was always lots of commotion. Sometimes that looked like our kids and lots of neighborhood kids running to his car to greet him and tell him something they waited all day to say share. Sometimes it looked like him bursting through the door calling the kids to come get "treaties" (which was always some kind of candy). Then our kids came running from everywhere. Sometimes it looked like rounding up our kids and making them redo their chores that were not quite up to his chore standards. And sometimes, that looked like him making a beeline to me in the kitchen, giving me a big hug, and asking about my day. Shortly after that was family dinner time. He always wanted everyone there and always sensed a difference when someone had other plans, which wasn't very often. We would eat and share about our days, sometimes it was silly and outrageous, and sometimes it was serious. But it was always coming from his desire to stay connected to one another at the heart level. He always spoke openly and shared from the heart. I often wondered if it was too much disclosure for our kids, but now I see it producing authenticity and sincerity in my kids' hearts. His evenings were filled with playing with the kids, sitting on our couches talking, being a chauffeur for our children’s activities, or studying hard to finish his degrees so he could provide more for us. But Tuesday evenings were the highlight of his week, that was our weekly date night. I can’t tell you how many times we ran in to one of his students and they always said the same thing, "He always talks about your weekly date nights…". I will treasure every moment we spent together, not just the good ones but the hard ones too. Nighttime looked like us gathering everyone in the living room to read books and get ready for bed. He would read the bible with us and pray for the next day. Then bedtime came and it was usually pretty messy. I would put the littles down while he was finishing up a long-winded bible time. By the time he finished up, the littles would all be quiet in bed, and he would come up and lay next to them. Before I knew it, they were out of bed and squealing with delight. He would pretend to be a butler and neatly tuck them into their blankets. He would sing silly songs while tickling them, or pop his head in the room and get the big kids amped up until I could hear laughing all the way downstairs. Then I would scold him like a kid for stirring them up - but he would say he couldn’t help himself (and most days I understood that). After we got everybody settled back down, he would complain about how long it took for the kids to go to bed and I would tell him it was his fault because he always stirred them up. Most nights we finished off the day in our living room, just him and I, we would talk, pray about everything that came to mind, and worship God because we were so thankful for his kindness toward us. I’m grateful we still get to worship together even if we are in different places. What else can be said but that Charlie’s life was a life laid down - laid down to Jesus and laid down for others. He knew his life was not his own. That’s why his impact is so far reaching, that’s why we all have pain in our hearts because we were all so well loved by him and because we all loved him back so deeply. I can only think of one thing more tragic than Charlies passing and that would be to experience this moment and walk away the same. The example of Christ in Charlie should provoke those of us who know Jesus to be faithful in whatever assignment God has given us - leaving the results up to Him, and to live for the day we see Jesus' beautiful face knowing that it will be in that moment that we will receive our rewards. And to those who don’t yet know Jesus, I pray you find the same peace, hope, and love that Charlie experienced, knowing who God is, and how much He loves you. It wasn’t Charlie that made Charlie so great - it was Christ in Charlie that made him so great. The same is available to every single one of us. Let’s all receive the gift that his life was, a true expression of our Father in heaven's heart. And now there is nothing left to say but go and do likewise… - Megan Criniere Post to the Memorial Wall Learn More About Charlie's Faith