Charles M. Bryant

Charles M. Bryant, 99 of Port Henry, NY was reunited with his love Colleen on Christmas Day in his home, surrounded by his loving family.       

Dad was born March 8, 1926, in Port Henry, NY, the son of William (Pa) and Anna Joy Bryant. 

A lifelong resident of Port Henry, dad often told stories of Pa having him and his brother Bill work loading Pa’s truck, to the point that the school had to make a deal with Pa to leave the kids in school until after attendance, so the school didn’t lose school aid. Dad learned an incredible work ethic from Pa that he maintained throughout his life.  Dad always said, “you gotta keep going, don’t stop.”

After graduating from Port Henry High School, dad joined the Army during World War II and trained as a radio mechanic.  After the war, dad went to the University of Denver in Colorado on the GI Bill.  While attending U of D, he met mom while attending a dance.  Dad was quite the romancer and went to her boarding house and asked for Carleen Hannigan, when one of the residents said there is no Carleen that lived there, but there was a Colleen Brannigan, dad responded, “well, go get her, so I can see what she looks like.”  We would tell mom she should have run when dad would tell that story.

Colleen and Charlie were married at St. Ann’s Cathedral in Great Falls, MT on September 27, 1952.  A blessed union of 70 years.

In 1950 Dad and his brother Bill bought the Garvey Diamond Drilling Company, a coal and dynamite company.  They delivered coal to the local community and delivered dynamite to Republic Steel for use in the local mines.  

In 1963, dad sold his interest in the coal company to his brother and purchased Phinney’s Sawmill and started Bryant’s Mill, which eventually became Bryant’s Lumber and Building Supplies.  Dad and mom and some siblings worked together building the family business for the next several decades, running the store and building dozens of homes and camps.  Dad was proud that he was able to help so many achieve their dream of having a house.  Dad never truly retired from “The Mill” and would continue to look at door, window and other sales opportunities from the Do It Best website, make pricing signs and always started his day up until the very end, looking at the checks that had come in from customers always put a smile on his face. 

Dad served on the board of the Essex County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) for 30 years and was instrumental in the development of the Town of Moriah Business Park and bringing Pre-Tech Precision Machining to town.  He was very humbled when the IDA dedicated a building in honor of his service. 

Dad loved spending time at his hunting camp in Schroon Lake.  He loved hunting deer with his sons, grandkids, brother, nephews and good friends: Chris and Peter Bedell, Bob Leveille, Tom Scozzafava, Bill Potowski, Don Tesar, Mark Garrand, Billy Callahan and Tom Baker.  He also loved to mow, cut trees and brush, tend to his apple trees and of course one of his favorite activities, managing multiple burn piles.  Nothing lit dad’s eyes up like a fire.  The Adirondacks are a little safer now.

Dad loved to go on drives with mom around the Adirondacks to look at the leaves changing colors and watch the deer in the fields.  Spending Friday nights at the King’s Inn for their date night, sitting with mom enjoying a drink and their view of Lake Champlain and most of all, family gatherings at the house.  Dad’s eyes always lit up, and his smile got a little bigger when the house was full and chaos ensued. There was no such thing as too many… it was always more the merrier. When he was 93, dad bought his first brand new truck, all the vehicles he owned prior had been used.  He was very proud of that.  In his later years, he enjoyed watching Judge Judy and Gunsmoke while sipping on a Manhattan or two.  

Dad was predeceased by his wife Colleen Brannigan Bryant, his parents William and Anna Joy, brother Bill (Elizabeth), sisters Louise (Clayton), Mary (Francis), his son-in-law David Laing, his beloved grandson Daniel “Digger” Laing, his in-laws Alice and Morris Lindsey, sister and brother in-law Betty (Joe) Killham.

Dad is survived by his 11 children: Ann (Charlie) Cotey; Dan Bryant (Brenda Baker); Chuck (Marie) Bryant; Ruth Laing (Chris Bedell); Edward (Sue) Bryant; Alice (John) Sadallah; Kevin Bryant; Tim (Irina) Bryant; Colleen Bryant (Paul Haschytz); Mary Bryant (Eric DeRoehn); Joe Bryant and Michael (Noami) Petersen along with 21 grandchildren: David Cotey, Bryant (Brianna) Cotey, Colleen (Alex) Boak; Joy (Damiano) Coassin, Blaise (Erin) Bryant, Dyani Mae Bryant; Chuckie (Caleigh) Bryant; Fred (Marissa) Laing and Stephanie Popp; Ed (Laura) Bryant, Brannigan (Brittany) Bryant, Alicia (Brian) Slattery; Jennifer Sadallah (Justin Worboys), Rosalie Sadallah (Jamie Ireland) and John (Kristyn) Sadallah; Timur (Jennie) Dzhambinov, Ray and Sophie Bryant; Lindsey Sullivan, Clayton and Rosalie Petersen, along with 19 great grandchildren: Charlie, Oliver, Bennett, Hazel, Collin, Davey, Emiline, Digger, Marshall, Emmitt, Taylor, Bode, Isibeal “Izzy”, Maddox, Harper, Milo, Sadie, Sanji, and Lily, along with several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to recognize the amazing care and companionship that Josette Celotti, Caleigh Bryant and Mary Streible provided to dad.  Their assistance to keep dad in his home was invaluable.    

The family would also like to thank Jean McClellan Forcier, dad’s friend of over 90 years, calling to check in with him and make sure he was being taken care of properly.  Dad always looked forward to visiting Jean when he could and her calls to the end.

The family also appreciates Chris Gibbs and John Neggia visiting dad regularly.  Dad always enjoyed the visits and thought the world of Johnny and his incredible World War II service.

A Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m., January 3, 2026 at St. Patrick’s Church, 12 St. Patrick’s Place, Port Henry, NY.  The Celebration of Life will follow at the VFW, 9 Veterans Way, Mineville, NY.

Donations in his memory can be made to The Sherman Free Library, 20 Church Street, Port Henry, NY  12974, The Town of Moriah Food Pantry, 38 Park Place, Port Henry, NY  12974, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), 9 Veterans Way, Mineville, NY  12956 or one of the local Fire Departments.

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