Charles Gaxiola

In Loving Memory of Charles Gaxiola

Charles Rafael Flynn Gaxiola spent his entire life creating art full of magic. He was born in Seattle on October 1, 1980, and passed away suddenly from a blood clot at his home on Maury Island on July 2, 2025. Charles filled the forty-four years in between with joyous, non-stop creativity.

As a child he was always creating and tinkering, taking things apart and reassembling them in new ways using bamboo from the family garden and metal and wood scraps. He began building a cabin at his family property while in elementary school, and over several years constructed an elaborate tunnel system called “The Katacombs” that spiraled over, under, and around the cabin to various chambers and platforms up in the trees. He hosted shows throughout his high school years in the late 90s at the Katacombs, including performances of his high school metal band, “Biocide.”

Charles began working with metal in jewelry class and created small intricate jewelry, suits of armor, and sculptures. He was voted senior homecoming prince at Vashon High School and wore a metal mask he created in the parade, driving a pickup truck with his artwork in the back, including his homemade guillotine. He performed with his band at Strawberry festival in a full suit of armor, and over the years displayed his creations at Strawberry Festival and Island Earthfair.

After high school, Charles worked at the Gem East Jewelry Company in Seattle with his mother Kathy Flynn. He also spent time in Mexico, visiting family, collecting plants, and starting botanical gardens with his father Hector Gaxiola Camacho in Nayarit and Jalisco. Charles recorded his album “Capulina” while living in Chapala, Jalisco.

Eventually Charles returned to Vashon and continued work on his music and art and helped his father with horticultural projects. After his father passed away, Charles repaired his greenhouse, filled it with plants, and gave it to his mother. He built more artistic structures on the property as gifts for his sisters Luz and Mica.

Charles created his own music under the name “Charlie’s Taxidermy,” creating dozens of albums over his lifetime. He was a master of analog recording techniques, working with tape cassette multi-tracking equipment and archaic microphones to capture sounds and tones that are impossible to achieve with modern digital equipment. He had a gift for playing multiple instruments, including guitar, bass, synthesizers, trombone, drums and vocals. He also often performed on instruments that he fabricated himself, including a bass guitar he carved from a huge piece of redwood.

Charles could often be found at his work bench, creating gifts for friends and family, including musical recordings and fantastical fine art metal weapons, boxes, and jewelry. His friends referred to him as a magus, a wizard. He had a mischievous sense of humor and a kind soul, he was well-loved and will be greatly missed.

Charles was predeceased by his father, Hector Gaxiola Camacho. He is survived by his mother, Kathy Flynn, his sisters Luz and Micaela Gaxiola Flynn, his brother-in-law, Ethan Morosoff, and his nephew, Ryder Camacho Gaxiola Morosoff.

Charles’ memorial will be held at the Vashon Cemetery at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 6. All are welcome.