Carnell Read, 75, of Knob Noster, Missouri, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg with Bishop Harry Stevens officiating. Interment will follow in the Knob Noster Cemetery. Pallbearers will be several of his children.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral chapel.

Carnell was born Feb. 9, 1940, in Ripley, Tennessee, the son of Lewis and Fannie Mae (Evans) Read. He graduated from Ripley High School. Following high school, he lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for several years prior to moving to Compton, California, in the early 1960s. Carnell was united in marriage to Ruby M. Cann on Feb. 22, 1965, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple resided in Compton while he worked at the Naval Ship Yards in Long Beach, California, for 17 years. In 1997, the couple relocated to Knob Noster. Carnell served as a civil engineer at Whiteman Air Force Base until retiring June 2, 2001. He was an avid fisherman.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby; three daughters, Cassandra Read, of Sedalia, Missouri; Cynthia Read, of Ripley, Tennessee; and Harriet Pettis and husband, Jefferson, of Knob Noster; seven sons, Carnell Read Jr., Kenneth Read and wife, Roseanderlyne, all of Ripley; Harold Sample, Orlando Sample, Lawrence Sample and wife, Joycelynn; Tyrone Read and wife, Tracy; Danny Read and wife, Loretta, all of Knob Noster; three sisters, Opal Flagg, of Brownsville, Tennessee; Juanita Read, of Decatur, Illinois; and Shirley Bullock and husband, Al, of Detroit, Michigan; three brothers, Troy Read, Wilbert Read and Danny Read and wife, Cynthia, all of Decatur; 35 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Quinette Clayborne and Kathy Read; son, Tony Read; sister, Vertie Bates; and four brothers, Thomas L., James, Vassell “Jack” and Larry Read.

 

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.