John Joseph "Joe" Carson

John Joseph "Joe" Carson, 93, a longtime funeral director of Parsons, passed away at 3:57 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Parsons Presbyterian Manor.

He was born August 12, 1924 in Parsons, Kansas to Joseph A. and Anna (Kendall) Carson. Joe attended St. Patrick's Catholic Elementary School, one year at Garfield Elementary School, East Junior High, and graduated from Parsons High School. He then attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.

During World War II, Joe proudly served in the United States Navy as a Pharmacist's Mate, Second Class, on the USS Catron (APA-71), a Gilliam-class attack transport and was at the Invasion of Okinawa. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Parsons.

On April 4, 1944, he and June Hayes were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons. In 1946, the couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Joe attended St. Louis College of Mortuary Science and graduated with Distinguished Honors. After their return to Parsons, they owned and operated Carson Funeral Homes, Thompson Motel, and Corbett Farms. Joe and June were actively engaged in the funeral business since 1944. Most recently, Joe served as a funeral director at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, June, on September 26, 2006.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was a member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. He was a member and former President of the Parsons Riding Club. He also enjoyed coaching basketball at St. Patrick's School for several years. Joe loved to bowl and continued to participate in various leagues until he was in his mid-80s. Through the 1960s and early 1970s, he served as a juvenile officer in Labette County and took in a host of children during that time. Joe especially enjoyed volunteering for Meals on Wheels and at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Parsons.

Survivors include:

Two Sons – Mike Carson and his wife, Janell, of rural Parsons, KS

Chris Carson and his wife, Joyce, of rural Parsons, KS

Two Daughters – Patty Carson and her husband, George, of Willow Springs, MO

Leslie Keller and her husband, Keith of rural Parsons, KS

Twelve Grandchildren

Twenty-Nine Great-Grandchildren

Two Great-Great-Grandchildren

A Host of Friends

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer; one grandson, Shawn Fowler; a great-granddaughter, Jacie Bebb; a great-grandson, Marshall Keller; two sisters, Lovisa (Carson) Nunnink and Mary (Carson) Dick; and a dear family friend, Maria Luveano.

The funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 5, 2018 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parsons with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Neosho Township Volunteer Fire Department, or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.