Ray Mantooth

Clarence “Ray” Mantooth, 76, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at Kansas City Hospice House, surrounded by his family. Ray was born October 12, 1946, at Lakeside Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the tenth and youngest child of Bruce and Mildred Mantooth. Ray was married to his loving wife, Zoe Neel Mantooth, for 43 years. A Kansas City native, Ray was raised in the Argentine community and would go on to live in Shawnee, KS, for more than 50 years. He graduated from Argentine High School in 1965 where he excelled in basketball. After high school, he became the proud owner of a 1967 red Chevy Corvette which he would drive daily. Ray was a meat cutter by trade. He trained at Fred Wolferman’s in Brookside and worked in several supermarkets in the Kansas City area, the longest at Westfield Apple Market in Kansas City, Kansas. Ray was a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union – Local 576 for 41 years. Ray loved college basketball and was an avid Kansas Jayhawks fan. March Madness was his favorite time of the year. He loved to travel within the US, with road trips to Branson, MO, and Estes Park, CO, being a couple of his favorite trips. Ray was also a huge music fan and loved listening to his favorite rock-n-roll songs from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s on his vintage jukebox restored by his brother-in-law, Dennis Rasdall. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Betty Ruth Mantooth, sister Anna Roessner and brothers Gerald, Myron and Earl Mantooth. He leaves behind his wife, Zoe; four sisters: Florence Thomas, Pansy Mantooth, Janet Holdeman and Frances Cowell; three sons, of whom he was most proud: Chad Mantooth of Dallas, TX; Scott Mantooth (Darcy) of Mission, KS; and Benjamin Mantooth (Lindy) of Overland Park, KS. Ray was also a proud “Papa” to granddaughter Ruby, and two grandsons, Brooks and Greyson, who were one of the greatest joys of his life. Family was everything to Ray, and he was proud to be a “Mantooth.” He loved his sons and their families above all else. Ray was also blessed with a very large extended family and was a beloved favorite “Uncle Ray” to many nieces and nephews. He loved them all. Ray especially had a very close relationship with nephew Scotty Mantooth, whom he thought of as a fourth son. Ray was a good, Christian man. As his health steadily declined the past few years, Ray found comfort in his salvation, knowing that he would spend eternity with Jesus and his loved ones who went before him, in Heaven. The family would like to thank the healthcare providers at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO, who provided Ray excellent care the last few weeks of his life. A special thank you to Ray’s cardiologist of 25 years, Dr. Anthony Magalski, with whom he shared a special bond. Visitation will be held at the Maple Hill Funeral Home, 3300 Shawnee Dr, Kansas City, KS 66106, on Saturday, July 8, at 10 a.m. A celebration of life service will follow at 11 a.m. All who know and love Ray and his family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Ray to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO, 64145.

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Ray Mantooth

October 12, 1946 - June 27, 2023