Ray Allen Naylor, age 87, of Warsaw, MO, passed away peacefully on July 13, after a short illness. Ray was born in Smithville, MO to Lowell and Ellen (Ray) Naylor on July 3, 1938.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, David and Mark. Surviving him are his wife, Carole, of the home and one sister, Debbie Barb, of Warsaw, MO. Also surviving is one sister-in-law Fonda Shipp (Steve), as well as four nieces, Rebacca Mausbach (Scott), Jenna Deibel (Corey), Tara Shipp (Danna),
Kelsie Bice, one nephew Adam Baumgardner (Krista), also several great nephews and nieces and other relatives.
Ray grew up in the Kansas City Northland area and graduated from North Kansas City High School. Soon after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served proudly and honorably for four years. In 1962 he was united in marriage to Carole Crabaugh, and they lived a long and happy life together for 63 years. Sometime after his military discharge he started his career at Kansas City Power and Light and retired early after 31 years. He always said he started out as a ditch digger and ended up a supervisor, all of which he thoroughly enjoyed. He and Carole then built a home at Truman Lake where he currently resided and enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement there as well as wintering in Texas for a number of years.
Ray was a good husband, a hard worker, and a friend to many. Ray was a man's man who was very talented working with his hands, anything mechanical, loved welding and was always up to the challenge of building something. He even took up wood carving later in life and loved it. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed many extended hunting and fishing trips with friends, but his favorite was fishing Truman Lake. He had a passion for working in his yard and took pride in having one of the nicest lawns in the neighborhood. Ray will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him as a friend.
Memorial donations suggested to Novus LifeCare, formerly GVMH Hospice, of Clinton, MO.
Funeral and interment will be Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Kansas City, KS at Chapel Hill Butler Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located at 701 North 94 Street. Visitation will be at 10:30 AM followed by service by the service at 11:00 AM.
