Ray Harvey Carmichael

Ray Harvey Carmichael
In the prose of the Old West, Ray Harvey Carmichael, of Olathe, KS, "rode off into the sunset" on November 17, 2024. He was 83 years old.
He was born a farm boy on August 24, 1941, the son of Emmett and Gertrude Carmichael in Pickering, MO. He attended a one room schoolhouse through the sixth grade and then entered school at Pickering where he graduated in 1959. Later that same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Loch. The couple had two children, Chris and Michele, and shared many happy blessings throughout their 65 years together.
Ray's career in business started with the J. C. Penney Co. where he spent 18 years in management at stores throughout the Midwest. In 1978, Ray and Barbara bought Parks Department Store, an historic retail store in downtown Columbia, MO, and soon opened three other clothing stores in the area. Later in life, Ray found great success as a franchisee of Snelling Personnel Services, where he grew his business into one of the largest staffing companies in the Kansas City area. He retired in 1996 at age 55.
Early retirement meant Ray could explore his "cowboy spirit." He enjoyed many seasons of horseback trail riding and horse drives through the majestic terrain of the American West in New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Silver Spur Ranch in Idaho. He especially cherished the time he spent riding in the Colorado mountains with his brothers, Steve and Jerry, who were known by some in these parts as the "Three Amigos." Looking high above these dusty paths, Ray also saw adventure in the open skies. In 2006, he became a licensed private pilot at age 65 after earning his wings in flight school.
Despite blazing many trails, however, Ray still found his deepest satisfaction in maintaining his home and personal office, hosting numerous family gatherings and traveling to many world destinations with his wife, Barbara. His adventurous spirit may have given him much in life, but he valued something much greater after hanging up his spurs. "Next to God," he once wrote, "family is the most important thing."
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children: Chris (Sheri) Carmichael and Michele (John) Meyer; 5 grandchildren (Drew Peterson, Seth Peterson, Jordan Carmichael, Gage Peterson and Haley Peterson); and 4 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Steve Carmichael and Jerry Carmichael. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Sharp.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00pm Friday, November 22nd at Price Funeral Home Chapel in Maryville. Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to services at 12 noon until 1:00pm.