Charles Kermit Finlay, 78, of Waco, went to be with the Lord on September 13, 2011. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 17, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, where he was a faithful choir member. He also enjoyed the fellowship of the men in his Sunday School class. Interment will be by his late wife at Steep Hollow Cemetery, near Bryan, Texas, at 2:00 p.m. that day. There will be a brief service at the graveside. Dr. Newton Cole, a long time family friend, will conduct both services. The family will meet friends at the Bellmead Funeral Home from 6:00 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening, September 16. Kermit was born January 6, 1933 in Bryan, Texas. On May 21, 1964 he married Alta Lee Bullock Johnson and they were married until her death 33 years later. When they married, Alta had three daughters which he accepted as his very own. In the summer of 1964 they moved to Iraan, Texas, where he taught Math at Iraan High School. They relocated to Austin, Texas in 1968 where he was employed by the City of Austin. A year later he took a position with the City of Waco. Sometimes later, Alta was diagnosed with cancer and he devoted himself to her care until her death in 1997. At that time he returned to teaching, this time at TSTC, where he taught until retirement. Kermit graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School, in Bryan, Texas, and Sam Houston State University. He also attended Hardin Simmons University and Texas A & M University. Kermit was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps, serving his country in Korea. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Violet Finlay, sister, Jeannette, foster sister, Sally Evans, wife, Alta Lee Bullock Johnson Finlay and daughter, Lynda Sue Johnson Garrison. He is survived by: two daughters, Cindy Smith (Ron) and Sammye Collier (Darren); grandchildren William Garrison II (Daminique), Melinda Garrison Cartwright, Chris Smith (Wendy), Courtney Martinka (Colby) and Trey Worley (Jaime); and ten great grandchildren, Cody, Clay, Alyssa, Alexander and Ty Garrison, Hannah & Davis Smith, Brody Martinka and Kaitlyn and Sophia Worley. Kermit is also survived by his older brother, Ed, and wife, Janie, of Houston, Texas, three nieces and their four children. Greatly loved extended family members include Patti Clark of Bryan, Texas and Edna Isham of Premont, Texas. The family wants to express special gratitude to Mrs. Clara Kotch, longtime family friend. She has been a caregiver and companion to Kermit for the last several years of his life. The men of Kermit's Sunday School class will serve as honorary pall bearers. For those wishing to make a donation in Kermit's memory, please consider the choir of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.