Raymond W. Karr

Dr. Raymond W. Karr, 89, passed away on September 5, 2014 at St. Patrick Hospital. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois on November 4, 1924 to Peter and Eda Karr. Ray attended St. Paul's Lutheran Elementary School. He graduated from Proviso Township High School in Maywood, Illinois in 1942.
World War II broke out and Ray served his country from 1942 to 1946 in the U.S. Navy. He volunteered as a submarine sailor with the rank of Torpedoman. His submarine, the U.S.S. Parche, under Commander Ramage in the Pacific War Theatre became one of the highest decorated ships of the Navy. Ray received nine wartime medals and decorations for his service on the Parche. Stephen Moore records his battle experiences in the book "Silent Warriors".
After the war, as a civilian, he returned to school, attending college at the University of Illinois and University of Montana earning a B.S. in Forestry. In later years, he completed a Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences and a Ph.D. in Forestry.
Ray started his forestry work in 1948 in Troy, Montana. In 1953, he became a professional forester on the Kootenai National Forest followed by service as District Ranger in Sitka, Alaska; Forest Supervisor in Butte, Montana; head of Wilderness and Wild Area Studies in Washington, D.C. and Assistant Regional Forester in Missoula, Montana. Throughout this time, he authored "Forests for People" University of Michigan Press. Co-authored with Michael Frome, "Search for Solitude" US Gov. Printing Office. Co-authored with John Grove, "Timber Management Plan" Bitterroot National Forest 1968. Planned and wrote Sitka and Ketchikan's Timber Management Plans 1958, Tongass National Forest, Alaska. He also authored a number of technical papers on Forest Service Administration relating to the in-service public involvement process.
In 1953, Ray first met Jane Karr (Eureka, MT) at the University of Montana. They married in 1954. They have three children: R. Peter Karr (Denver, Co), Eda Lyn Karr (Stevensville, Mt) and Raylene Saur (Anchorage, AK). Peter and Raylene are alumni of the University of Montana and Eda graduated from Cal. State. Other survivors include four grandchildren, three great-grandsons and his brother James Karr. He is preceded in death by his siblings William Karr and Marion Dziagwa.
Ray retired from the US Forest Service in 1984 and continued working as a consulting forester cruising timber and researching Grizzly Bear habitat field studies for the next four years. Ray also ranched with his partner of many years, Steve Sherrick, in the Bitterroot Valley, east of Stevensville, MT. As Ravalli County volunteers, Ray, Gary Nelson, and Ron McCann developed and digitized the Ravalli County road inventory. Ray enjoyed trout fishing for 26 years highlighted with annual trips to the Big Hole with Dale Burke and Steve Yurich. He also enjoyed big game hunting with long-time friends Don Durland and Glen Beckman. When not in Montana, he loved hiking the island of Maui with Louie Rosado. Near the end of his life, he was proud to participate in the last Big Sky Honor Flight with his friends Al Adams and Scott Drake.
Through all the years, he filled his life with the love of many animals. He was passionate about his many pets from snakes to horses, but especially dogs. During the last few years his companion dog, Panda, made sure he had help as he walked the fields of his neighborhood.
A service will be held on Friday, October 3rd, at 2:00 pm at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. A celebration of life will held at the home of Ray and Jane Karr, 6150 S. Meadowwood Lane, Missoula, Mt directly following the service. All are welcome.



Read Raymond Karr's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.