Sunday, July 7th, 2012 Chuck Mettille, known to us geocachers as "GNCAZ" went off in search of an FTF. After finding the cache and signing the log, first, Chuck set out for his car and never made it. Hours later his family alerted officials but the police could not initiate a missing persons report as sufficient time had not passed to warrant such a report and subsequent search. So the geocaching community jumped into the situation and shortly after Chuck's body was discovered .2 from his car and 50 feet off a trail. )
I am originally from Arizona and when I found out about this story I decided to publish a cache in Chuck's honor. Chuck was originally from Iowa and moved West whereas I'm from Arizona and moved to the Midwest- but we're still cachers and I was only a meeting at a cache away from knowing him- the same way I've met dozens of cachers.
Who among us hasn't cached solo? Rarely anyone. I do it all the time. Perhaps in the future I'll leave a GC# at home with my family as I spring out the door.
If you've read this far you'll know that this cache is to honor Chuck and to that point- anyone that logs this cache may log it as a FTF- take your time and go grab it.
I thought that posting Chuck's obituary was appropriate.
Mettille, Chuck
Chuck (Charles) Mettille passed away while pursuing his favorite activity, geocaching. Chuck's zest for life was insatiable. He loved his family more than anything else. He worked hard and played hard. He played golf with a passion until he was introduced to a new interest called geocaching which became his most favorite pastime. Chuck loved to travel and felt privileged to see a great deal of the world. He was born on February 18, 1933 and grew up in Des Moines, Iowa before moving to Arizona where he worked for AT&T/Mountain Bell for 35 years. He is survived by his wife Ginny of 37 years, his five children, Karen Mc Kinnon, Randy Mettille, Jackie Konieczka, Cheri Garick and Cyndi Davis. 10 grandchildren, Sara Wright, David Wright, Cassie Stroben, Sean O'Neill, Desiree Tuey, Vanessa Tuey, Joey Tuey, Griffin Garick, Bella Garick and Madison Garick, and 2 great grand children, Evan Wright and Hayden O'Neill. Sisters Liz Gassoway, Carol Easley, and brother Rich Mettille. He was preceded in death by his brothers Joe Mettille and Gary Mettille.