Ralph L. Carlisle, 85, passed into his heavenly reward and into the presence of his creator on Feb. 21, 2012. A celebration of his life was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Carlson’s Funeral Home in El Dorado. A private family burial service preceded the memorial service.
Ralph was born in Hunter, Mo., on Feb. 13, 1927, to Jay and Sybil (Hancock) Carlisle. At an early age, the family moved to Burns, Kan., where he was raised on the farm and graduated from Burns High School.
He married Margaret “Muggs” Hull on March 20, 1945; he departed soon thereafter to serve his country in the U.S. Navy and was on sea duty near Japan when World War II ended.
The couple had celebrated 66 years of marriage. Ralph began his 33-year career with the Gas Service Company as a welder and moved into the field as a serviceman technician. His ability to fix almost anything earned him a leadership position as maintenance supervisor.
His kind ways, pleasing personality, and gentle manner earned him the respect of his co-workers and all the many customers he helped. His experience as a repairman for gas air-conditioners made him famous and a much sought after instructor on these complicated machines.
In the early 1960s and ’70s, Ralph enjoyed photography, riding his Harley Motorcycle, trap shooting, and serving on the El Dorado Police Reserves.
In 1979, Ralph retired from the Gas Service Company and began his own business with his son-in-law, John Grange. Ralph retired from Carlisle Heating Air Conditioning, Electrical, and Plumbing in 1991, and upon retirement moved to a farm east of El Dorado.
It was on this farm that Ralph enjoyed a lengthy retirement where he kept busy “tinkering,” moving rock and dirt with the tractor, cutting firewood, feeding the deer and turkeys, and making his “crop circles”. He enjoyed driving four-wheelers, and as he got older he purchased a Kawasaki Mule so he could drive the section line each evening to view the wildlife and sunsets.
Ralph and Muggs enjoyed sharing their little piece of paradise by allowing Boy Scouts, church groups, friends and family, grandkids, entire classes of schoolchildren, and sometimes strangers to walk the woods, fish the ponds and creek, enjoy cook-outs, or camp overnight. He especially enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren down at the “cabin.”
His long love affair with Muggs produced three daughters, Carol Carlisle of Wichita, Nancy (John) Grange of El Dorado, and Cathy (Lyle) Shaffer of rural Latham.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Margaret of the home; all three daughters; one brother, David (Sue) Carlisle of San Angelo, Texas; and one sister, Anise Janzen of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Matt (Jayme) Grange, McKenzie Grange Harding, Jake (Blayne) Shaffer, all of El Dorado, Sara (Alan) Lonas of Gatlinburg, Tenn., Tim (Keera) Ketterman of Dallas Texas, Becky (Scott) Stewart of Mulvane, and Betsy (Blake) Hartje of Aurora, Colo.
His extended family includes six great-grandchildren, Charlie Grange, Samuel Harding, Emma and Kate Lonas, Luke and Landen Stewart, and Karsyn Shaffer.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Todd Carlisle.
Memorials have been established with Boy Scout Troop 222 of El Dorado, The Lord’s Diner of Wichita, and Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Send condolences to the family at http://www.carlsoncolonial.com.