Charles (Ray) Carr, 81, of West Des Moines, died April 28th 2021 at home surrounded by his family. Funeral will be May 5th at 11:00 am, visitation 10am-11am and a rosary at 9:30 am at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Rd., Des Moines, IA.
Ray was born December 23rd, 1939 in West Des Moines, IA to James and Olive Carr. Ray graduated from Valley High School in 1958, then went on to drafting school in Chicago. He worked for Dico, Penn Dixie, Delevan, Iowa Machinery and retired from Peerless supply in 2001. Throughout his life Ray coached his kid’s baseball/softball teams, was a member and Exhausted Rooster in the West Des Moines Jaycees in the 1970’s, designed and built the BEST haunted houses for the Jaycees, Ray was also a charter member and trustee of the West Des Moines Elks Lodge. Ray was legendary at Saylorville Lake, serving up his Saylorville Martoonies on his houseboat the Valhalla. Ray loved the Lake of the Ozarks and Daytona Beach where he and Sandy spent a lot of their retirement. Ray was a staunch Kansas City Chiefs fan and was ecstatic that the Chiefs won the championship last year. Most of all, Ray loved his family and friends.
Ray will be remember for his luxurious head of hair, priceless jokes and one liners, his impressive and incredible gift to create, draw, build and fix anything on this earth and his most favorite song You never even called me by my name (darling darling) by David Allan Coe. He was known as Honey, Dad, Papa, Ray but you never called him Chuck! Anyone that knew him, knew that he had a serious adversity to Cats.
Ray is survived by his loving wife Sandra Jean Hendrick Carr of 59 years, his son Bob Carr, daughter, Kelly (Bob) Michael, grandchildren, Zachary Carr, Madison Eickholdt, Denali Samuelson, Riley Stone and Liberty Cawthorne and 9 great grandchildren.
Ray is preceded in death by his parents James and Olive Carr, Brother Jay Carr and nephew Dan Carr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Midwest Hospice of Iowa or Cancer society.
