Six-year-old Charlie Edward Pickett of Jaffrey had a smile that would light up a room.

“Everybody knew Charlie for his infectious smile,” his father Robert Pickett said on Saturday. “His smile was always there. That’s what people knew about him.”

Charlie loved playing with his older brother Bobby, he was excelling in reading during his kindergarten year at Heritage Christian School in Rindge and had an easy-going, go-with-the-flow kind of approach to life. He loved Super Smash Bros. on his Nintendo Switch, enjoyed painting more than coloring and was genuinely happy sitting down with his mom Adaris for a craft project.

That’s how his parents Robert and Adaris chose to remember the second of their three children on Saturday, one week after Charlie passed away on May 1 while on a family trip to South Carolina.

“I grieve for us missing his smile, his sloppy kisses that made him so special,” Robert said.

Adaris said Charlie, who was named after two of his great grandfathers, was a healthy child. Over the years, he had a few febrile seizures – which are caused by a fever – but that was it. He came down with a stomach bug that went through the family during their time in South Carolina, and Robert said he can only speculate that another seizure is what occurred after Charlie went down for a nap in the family’s vacation home.

“There was a point where he said he wanted to lay down,” Robert said. “Then I just remember my wife yelling for me. It was probably the hardest moment of my life.”

It has been an emotional week for the Picketts as they went from a fun family vacation down south to planning a funeral, which will take place on Tuesday, May 11, beginning with a public visitation at noon at Outreach Church in Rindge followed by a service at 1 p.m.

Robert said his second son never really cared what he was doing. He just liked being around others, no matter what the activity. He loved to challenge his father to wrestling matches and was fearless in his attempt to get the upper hand. As Robert put it, “he was a big boy for a six-year-old.”

He was involved in a number of activities, including jujitsu and ninja class and loved playing music. Charlie taught himself to play the Nintendo Switch before he even got one for Christmas last year.

“He was just a happy kid,” Robert said, with Adaris remembering his sweet and kind nature. He constantly challenged his father with addition facts and loved to write.

Adaris said he was totally a middle child, just going with whatever the family was doing and never fussed or picky to get his way. But at the same time, he was really becoming his own person, Adaris said.

“He was the happiest kid ever,” Robert said. “He was always so kind and so loving.”

Adaris kept all his paintings from preschool, and recently his favorite subject was Mario.

“He had this artsy side to him,” she said. 

While it has been a trying 10 days since Charlie’s passing, which has left a giant hole in their family, Robert and Adaris said their faith in God has helped them get through the depths of their grieving. At a time when they should be defeated and miserable, Robert said God has shown them comfort.

“I cannot explain it,” Robert said. “But it’s about the most real thing in my life right now.”

The support of both their church community and the people of Jaffrey and Rindge has been a source of strength. Many relatives of those they attend Outreach Church with who live in South Carolina came to visit the family, bringing food and toys for Bobby and Grace, 3, and offering comfort in their time of need.

“We must have had 60 people in South Carolina come to that house,” Robert said. “These were people we didn’t even know but those people were willing to drop everything and treat us like family.”

The Picketts only moved to Jaffrey in October, but Charlie had already made a number of friends at Heritage Christian School, including his best buddies Barron and Trevon.

“He loved the friends he had at school,” Robert said, adding he was one of those kids who made friends quickly. Adaris said Charlie was always asking for her to set up playdates.

While only in the area for a little more than six months, the Picketts have seen how special the community is. New friends and strangers have opened their arms to them, stopped by the family home and brought meals, and for that Robert said they are forever grateful. A GoFundMe was created by Isabel Geesey on behalf of the family and since it began last Monday it has collected $23,710 for the Picketts as of Monday afternoon.

Geesey said the families have spent a lot of time together since the fall, as her son Barron and Charlie became friends quickly, and felt this was one way she could help.

“They are just amazing people,” she said. “And you want to do anything you can to help because that’s literally your worst nightmare as a parent.”

Geesey said she received many calls from others asking how they could help.

“People have been so generous. It’s amazing,” she said. “There are people that they don’t even know who are donating. It just shows how good humans are.”

Through all of their pain, Robert has found a new meaning in life.

“I made a vow to myself that no matter what happens in my life I will honor Charlie,” he said. “I will be more patient, forgiving and kind.”

And he has a message for other parents.

“Cherish your kids at every moment, even the difficult ones,” he said. “I’d give anything to have a few moments with Charlie again.”

To donate to the Pickett family, search Charlie Pickett on https://www.gofundme.com/.

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