H.B. “Shorty” Carrel, 96, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, passed away March 12, 2023.
Mr. Carrel was born on the family farm February 10, 1927, which was lost during the Great Depression. They then moved to Liberty, Missouri, and later to Excelsior Springs in 1942. Shorty was drafted in early 1945. He served in the Coastal Artillery at the Panama Canal Zone. His Army career spanned several continents while serving in Germany, Korea, and Vietnam, in addition to many state-side postings. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star and was promoted to Command Sergeant Major during his service in Vietnam.
He retired from the Army with a medical discharge and returned to Excelsior Springs in 1970. He worked in the Excelsior Springs Parks Department and retired as the Park and Recreation Director. H.B. also served three terms on the City Council and was named Citizen of the Year.
H.B. lived a great life. He enjoyed watching all kinds of sports and old movies. The Golf Course and Mill Inn were his favorite places for spending time with friends and family. H.B. had a heart of gold and will be missed by many.
H.B. was preceded in death by his wife, Elsa, and son, Carl.
He is survived by his son, Harry; daughter-in-law, “Nok”; two grandchildren, John and Ananya, aka Namthip; and three great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 21, 2023 with service following at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Burial with full military honors following at New Hope Cemetery, Liberty, MO. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the tax-deductible scholarship fund of the 1st Infantry Division and mailed to: 1st Infantry Division Foundation, Attn: Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 607, Ambler, PA 19002.
Arrangements in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
Our Sincere Condolences
Loved his wife Elsa, she made the best Christmas cookies. Shorty was my 1st boss at life guarding and he was great! I still have our crystal goblets from our wedding gift. I’ll always remember him playing ping pong at my dad’s store, Wilson Paint. I don’t know a more special, kind hearted gentleman.
He lived a great life!
Kay Dickey Carrico
Rest easy my good friend.
Jesse Hall
We know why Mr. Carrel was Command Sergeant Major in the Army and Mayor of Excelsior Springs. He was very accomplished and super intelligent. Heart of gold, fits Mr. Carrel. We will miss your knowledge and Helpfulness. One of a kind.
Love you ever.
Niece Patty
H.B. and Elsa were great neighbors. They will remain close to our hearts.
We will miss him. Awesome person!
Larry and Clara Brunke
I feel honored and blessed to known Uncle Harry most of my life. He was always so very kind to our family. I will really miss our get togethers where he would share stories about our family history and his life. He made the world a better place and is now in heaven with Aunt Leni and Carl. I will miss you but feel so fortunate you were a part of my life.
Alan Rittel
I have many memories of Shorty, most of them ending in my being harassed by the drill Sargent. He delighted in taking my last nickel in the card game at the Golf course every morning. My earliest and most remembered memory (thanks to him) is of Adam Lewellyn and myself riding our bikes in his ditch. Here we are 30+ years later and I will one last time apologize for the ruts. I still contend we were in the public right away and as a city official he should recognize my argument as valid. Anyways, that’s just one more of many memories I will carry the rest of my life of a man that was very generous, helpful and wise. May God offer peace to the family during this tough transition and I pray Shorty finds peace as he goes our maker.
Jeremy
