Raymond Healy Obituary

Raymond Arthur Healy was born Aug.4, 1951 in Carroll, Iowa with his twin brother Roger. The twins were the first children for William and Sara Patricia Healy of Vail, Iowa. The Healy family grew to seven sons and 2 daughters. Ray and his siblings grew up working the family farm. Every day was filled with chores, raising cattle and hogs, or supporting planting or harvest of the crops. Ray was able to play football and participated in 4H throughout high school. He graduated from Ar-We-Va High School in 1970.

After high school Ray attended an auto body trade school in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He then perfected his welding skills in Wall Lake, Iowa and welcomed his first daughter, Jackie. In 1975, he moved his family to Milan, MO where he began a new trade of custom dozing. Ray welcomed his second daughter, Jamie in 1976. He supported his growing family working road construction throughout the state. In 1981 Ray went back to his roots, and started farming west of Milan. In 1985 he welcomed his third daughter, Kasie. The volatility of farming became too much and Ray went back to dozing for several years. In 1988 Ray welcomed his fourth daughter, LaRae, his namesake. His remaining work years were spent working road and bridge construction and he was always open to fix anyone's equipment.

Ray met the love of his life, Judy, in 1998. They enjoyed traveling to grandkids ball games, fishing, sports, being outdoors, spending time with family, and gardening. Ray planted a massive garden each year. He and Judy spent days canning and freezing their harvests. He very much enjoyed sharing his bounty with his children and neighbors. Ray was also a very successful coon hunter. He attended and won many awards at the American Coon Hunters Association World Hunt and PKC World Championship. He was a well-respected dog trainer and has sold hundreds of dogs over the years that have gone on to win many awards. Ray's dogs were featured several times in multiple magazines, including American Cooner and the ACHA Yearbook. Ray was an officer for the Galt Coon Hunter Club.

Ray's retirement years were filled with fishing, raising dogs, gardening, and spending time with Judy. Ray always welcomed a neighbor, loved fishing with grandchildren, and tinkering on anything mechanical. Working with his hands brought him great joy. He was an avid outdoorsman that could never sit for very long. He always believed there was something productive to do and he possessed so many different skills his hands were never idle.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Pat and Bill, and his mother-in-law, Zella Mae Neely.

Ray is survived by his life partner, Judy. His children, Jackie Prescott (Mike Powell) of Springfield, MO; Jamie Krans (Chris) of Nixa, MO; Kasie Penney (Josh) of Lee's Summit, MO, and LaRae Healy (Mandi) of Springfield, MO. His step-children Jeremy Weaver of Milan, MO; Jason Weaver (Yvonne) of Gladstone, MO; Dennis Weaver (Bobbi) of Milan, MO; Dustin Weaver (Sara) of Winigan, MO; 16 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

A visitation for Ray will be held 1:00 to 3:00 PM, Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan, with a memorial service starting at 3:00 PM. A private family only graveside will be held after at Oakwood Cemetery in Milan.