The Excelsior Standard, Mar. 17, 2023

H.B. CARREL H.B. Carrel H.B. “Shorty” Carrel, 96, of Excelsior Springs passed away March 12, 2023. Mr. Carrel was born Feb. 10, 1927, on the family farm, which was lost during the Great Depression. They then moved to Liberty and then in 1942 to Excelsior Springs. Shorty was drafted in early 1945. He served in the coastal artillery at the Panama Canal Zone. His Army career spanned several continents while serving in three tours in Germany, Korea and Vietnam, in addition to many stateside postings. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and was promoted to command sergeant major during his service in Vietnam.

He retired from the Army with a medical discharge and returned in 1970 to Excelsior Springs. He worked in the Excelsior Springs Parks Department and retired as the parks and recreation director.

H.B. also served three terms on the city council and was named Citizen of the Year.

H.B. was preceded in death by his wife, Elsa; and son, Carl. He is survived by his son, Harry; daughter-in-law, “Nok”; two grandchildren, John and Ananya, a.k.a., “Namthip”; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, with service following, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Burial with full military honors will follow at New Hope Cemetery, Liberty.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the tax-deductible scholarship fund of the 1st Infantry Division and mailed to: 1st Infantry Division Foundation; Attn: Scholarship Fund; P.O. Box 607; Ambler, PA 19002.

Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home. Phone: 816-630-3131.