Charles “Chuck” “Buddy” Boutwell, 63, a native and resident of Thibodaux, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 5, 2025. He fell asleep and then woke in the company of Jesus, receiving his official welcome into the cool section of Heaven.

Visitation for Chuck will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 718 Jackson St. in Thibodaux. His memorial service, officiated by the Rev. Holly Burris, will begin at 11 a.m. and have a Hawaiian theme. Following the service, everyone is invited to the parish hall for a reception to include one of Chuck’s very favorite things: sharing stories.

In a perfect language, there would be a word to describe the role Chuck played in so many lives, and the impact he had on so many people.

He was a constant source of love and kindness in a large family and tight-knit bayou community. Chuck quietly took care of many people - and usually in a way that led to a fun story later.

He was preceded in death by his father,  Milford “Jay” Boutwell, and his brother, Ricky Boutwell.

He will be dearly missed by his mother, Patricia Harvey Boutwell; his sisters, JoEl Guillot (Clem), Kellie Spivey (Danny), and Terri Boutwell; and his many nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.

Chuck won awards for his humor writing, which invited everyone to see the world from his perspective, which could turn a trip to Walmart or first day at college into something funny, interesting, and memorable.

Chuck especially enjoyed writing columns and first-person news pieces on local businesses like Mr. Ronnie’s Hot Donuts, but he was just as proud that his resume was so varied and bizarre. His jobs included creative work in film, theater, journalism, and churches. His resume includes documentary filmmaker, video workshop instructor, club bouncer, and church staff as well as church volunteer. He helped pastors create powerful sermons, played a ghost in Hamlet, and ensured post-storm recovery workers were well-fed. He did some light bounty hunting.

He was profoundly impacted by his time in Los Angeles working as an assistant to the late actor Wings Hauser.

Chuck earned a Bachelor’s degree from Nicholls State University. He loved to tell people that he took English 101 nine times before passing. While retaking English classes, he wrote weekly humor columns for The Nicholls Worth that made people laugh and think. Some of his biggest fans were members of the notoriously tough Nicholls English faculty.

He studied Psychology and Mass Communication at Louisiana State University and taught video production courses at Nicholls. He loved teaching, both in the studio and without, incorporating humor and creativity into his lessons and taking students on field trips to the stairwell to hear his Aaron Neville impressions.

He found great satisfaction and purpose in creating multimedia projects for local churches and would work into the night ensuring videos, props, and other sermon illustrations were top-notch and impactful. He wanted the plastic apples to light up on cue, and the Ark of the Covenant to measure the precise amount of cubits.

His love for science shone in “Vanishing Wetlands, Vanishing Future,” a documentary he co-created with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. He had recently returned to video production work to help document coastal land loss, work that satisfied his soul.

Chuck adored comedy. He viewed comedians as modern-day philosophers and ranked them according to how far he would drive to see them. He marveled at seeing George Carlin in Beaumont, Texas, because he would have driven much further for a Carlin show.

Chuck loved spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed getting milkshakes and trying different kinds of pho with his mother.

He loved campfires, long drives, and meals that stretched into hours. He wore Hawaiian shirts because you can spill chili on them and nobody will notice.

He was a big tipper and an organ donor.

He was the safe space, the neutral ground, the Switzerland, of passionate people who did not always agree, because his warmth and empathy welcomed everyone to the table and saw the best in us all. He regularly offered money, rides, food, hugs, a listening ear, kindness, and a safe harbor to many, many people. He emanated warmth and took joy in helping. He turned unfortunate situations into an adventure, a creative solution, a story to tell.

Chuck always had the strength to believe in people, and that strength came from his faith in the teachings of Jesus. He lived his life with the belief that each one of us was always one step away from becoming a better person. And to know Chuck was to strive to be one, to become the version of you that he had in his heart.

In God’s perfect language, we could describe the measure of our grief in a single word, but we don’t speak that kind of language. With God’s grace, we can look forward to embracing our friend again and retelling stories fresh from our restored hearts. For now, we can take comfort in knowing that his wisdom, love, and humor will continue through all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Vision International, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Mercy Ships.

Cha-cha-cha.

Online condolences can be given at www.thibodauxfuneralhome.com

Thibodaux Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.