Carroll Thomas Lea

Carroll Lea

Carroll Thomas Lea, 88, of Newtown, Missouri passed away on June 16, 2010. After a short battle with cancer, Carroll passed at his daughter’s home surrounded by his family, one mile from his place of birth.
Carroll Lea was born on February 22, 1922 the son of Edward and Myrtle (Lessy) Lea. On December 20, 1943, Carroll married Mary Morris in Princeton, MO and she preceded him in death on April 14, 1992. Carroll attended the Fairview Grade School and the Lucerne High School, graduating in 1941. After graduation, he earned a certificate for aircraft and sheet metal work from the United School in Kansas City in 1942. He worked in Kansas City for a short time and then joined the first wheat harvest brigade out west. Carroll returned to the area to make a home and farm, but continually built anything he could out of metal, fully enjoying his blacksmithing trade. He was very mechanical and innovative in his repairs.
Carroll was a good neighbor who would stop whatever he was doing to help. He was very social person who had an outgoing personality. He also had a breadth of knowledge on a variety of subjects. Carroll was baptized at the Newtown Christian Church where he attended. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and served his community as a board member of the York Township and both Sprigg and Busby Cemeteries.
Carroll is survived by a son Loren Russell Lea and wife Debbie of Galt, MO and two daughters, Eva Jolene Grindstaff and husband Reggie of Galt, MO and Barbara Ann Hays and husband Enoch of Eudora, KS. Carroll’s surviving sisters are Margaret Hackney and husband Carroll of Unionville, MO and Wanda Lowry and husband Marvin of Newtown, MO. His grandchildren include Jason Grindstaff, James Lea, Tony Grindstaff, Justin Lea, Jeffery Lea, Jeremy Lea, and Connor Hays. His surviving great grandchildren are Leanna Lea, Logan Lea, and Noah Lea.
In addition to his parents and wife, Carroll was preceded in death by a brother, Clell Dean Lea.
Memorials for Carroll are suggested to the Putnam County Library and may be entrusted to the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.