Chris R. Carroll

CHRISTOPHER ROBERT CARROLL From the earliest days sitting in his father’s Jaguar parked in the driveway to standing next to his brother’s Speedster, Christopher Robert Carroll was a marked man. Before he passed on January 20, 2014, in his home in Mission, KS at the age of 60, Chris had a life filled with cars. In his teen years Chris was a VW enthusiast, sometimes at the expense of his parents. On one occasion, the neighbors chided him for turning a VW upside down in their driveway so that he could scavenge the parts he needed for another VW build project. He was undeterred. Later in his life, Chris turned to the VW’s more powerful offspring: Dr. Porsche’s 356 and 911. Eventually Chris settled down for a bread-and-butter diet of Toyotas, Hondas and the other Japanese vehicles. That meal paid the bills but did not satisfy Chris’ hunger for power and speed. You could count on Chris to keep a delectable dessert on hand, including an NSX. After these “staid” years, Chris turned to hotrods—the hotter the better. His greatest joy came from the construction of vehicles such as his 1932 Ford Highboy; to the end of his days it would be his favorite sunny-day drive. Other treasures included a 1949/95 Ford/Thunderbird, a yellow 1939 Ford Coupe, a lightening fast Ford F-150 “Lightening”, and a Harley V-Rod. Chris’ beloved companion, Natalie Howard, who preceded him in death just two months earlier, accompanied him throughout his journey. Although she failed to understand the need for speed, Natalie always supported Chris’ desire for a better (i.e., faster) car. Upon realizing that his earthly journey was coming to an end, Chris remarked to D.J., his faithful cohort, that he and Natalie appeared to be on the same schedule. We hope this is the case and they are once again together, driving away in his vehicle of choice (undoubtedly a Ford-powered, Chevy-bodied Chariot of Fire. Chris will be missed but will live on in the hearts of the many family and friends who loved him. Chris was born February 12, 1953, the son of Dorr Howard Carroll, Jr. and Hester Emery (Moore) Carroll and brother to five older siblings. He is survived by: Daniel “DJ” Simonelli, the son of his heart, and by DJ’s wife Mindy and their son CJ, of Kansas City, KS; Scott Hoog, the son who was lost and then found, and Scott’s wife Cristal and their children Nick, Elizabeth and Ashley and Ashley’s husband Jon and their son Charlie, all of Lewiston, ID; his brother Charles Carroll and his life companion Charlotte of Prairie Village, KS; his brother John Carroll and his wife Anne of Fairway, KS; his sister Anne Kwo and her husband David of Laguna Niguel, CA; and his sister, Susan Diehn and her husband Fred of Horseshoe, NC. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews and their families. Chris was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother Thomas Carroll. A visitation in his honor and memory will be held on Friday, January 24, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Maple Hill Funeral Home, 3300 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in the name of “Chris Carroll” to Collector’s Foundation at 141 Rivers Edge Drive, Suite 200,Traverse City, MI, 49684 or via their website www.CollectorsFoundation.org or to any other charity of your choice. To share a memory or leave condolences please visit www.MapleHillFuneralHome.com.

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Chris R. Carroll

February 12, 1953 - January 20, 2014