Obituary of Charles A. Bayens

Charles A. Bayens, known to his friends and family as "Chuck", born November 15, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl and Agnes Bayens, died on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Chuck was preceded in death by his nurturing mother, Agnes Bayens, and generous father, Carl Bayens. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carol Lecker Bayens, who he met at a mixer at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. From their blessed and wonderful marriage sprang three hardworking, responsible, caring families: son, Scott Bayens, his wife McLean Cherry, and their young son, Bridger, in Carbondale, Colorado; daughter, Erin Abdelnour, her husband, Richard Abdelnour, and their children, Owen and Olivia, in Houston, Texas; and daughter, Clare Kiklowicz, and her husband Doug Kiklowicz, in Long Beach California. He is also survived by his sister, Carol Rose Bayens, in Darien, Illinois. Chuck was born and raised in Chicago and received a Jesuit education at St. Ignatius High School and attended University of Detroit and earned Masters and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After graduation, Chuck began a 30-year career with Shell Oil Company, retiring as President of Shell Synthetic Fuels Inc., Emeritus Director on the Board of the Gasification Technologies Council, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Hopkins Chemical Engineering Department. He continued to work as a consultant on greenhouse gas management for several companies, including Shell, until well past 70. With the care of Dr. Paul Sugarbaker of Washington Hospital Center and Dr. Paul Mansfield and the team of doctors at MD Anderson, Chuck was able to live with appendix cancer for over 20 years and enjoy a high quality of life for the majority of that time. Prior to his death, Chuck made it clear to his family he wanted to recognize and thank: his wife Carol for lovingly doing everything that needed to be done; Annette Bisanz for directing his care to Dr. Sugarbaker; Gabriella Graham, now deceased, of PMP (pseudomyxoma peritonei) Pals, for her encouragement and support; and Fr. Bill Steele for inviting him to read God's word at Mass. Chuck indicated it was an enlightening experience for him and hoped also for those who heard him read. Finally, Chuck wanted to thank everyone who prayed for him, visited him, and helped him and Carol over the years. Chuck will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his family and friends for his confident council and endless support, phenomenal repertoire of signature homemade pancakes, his meticulously mixed cocktails and drinks, generous and numerous champagne toasts, brilliant tulip displays and love of gardening, his light-hearted humor and unwavering faith and perseverance in the face of death. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m., Monday, March 7, 2016 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 10688 Shadow Wood Drive in Houston, Texas. For those desiring, donations may be made to the Houston Food Bank.