Carlos Rex Cantrell passed away January 4, 2018 in Amarillo, Texas.

Carlos was born October 31, 1923 at Strickler, Arkansas to Thomas Jefferson and Martha Luella (Woods) Cantrell. Carlos had four older siblings and four younger siblings, all of whom preceded him in death.

At the age of 5, Carlos moved with his entire family to Waldron, Kansas. His parents loaded all of their belongings and all the children into the back of their truck and that is how they made the entire trip.

Carlos attended a small one room country school one mile from his home, either walking or riding horse-back to school. It was here he met his best friend, Charles Linn, who later in life became his brother-in-law, when the two men ended up marrying sisters. During lunch break at school in the winter months, Carlos and Charles would go down to the creek if it was frozen and ice skate. More times than not, they would be late back to class because they were having too much fun.

After high school, Carlos attended and graduated from a two year business school in Wichita where he studied book keeping.

Carlos married Loiese Hopkins on July 1, 1944 in Medford, Oklahoma. Together they began raising a family, operating a dairy and also grew wheat, baled hay and raised a variety of animals on their farm just north of Waldron, Kansas.

In 1971, Carlos and Loiese moved to Elsmore, Kansas where they continued operating their dairy, growing and harvesting wheat and corn, and baling hay.

In 1984, Carlos retired selling his cattle, farming equipment and farm and he and Loiese moved to Independence, Kansas. They enjoyed retirement by taking trips to see their kids and grandkids, which they had never been able to do before. They also enjoyed going to the National Gospel Quartet Convention every year with their daughter, Diana and her husband, Jon.

Carlos enjoyed growing tomatoes and giving them to friends and neighbors. He liked puttering with his cars and watching the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2006, Loiese's health began to decline so they moved to Anthony, Kansas to be closer to family. In 2008, they sold their home and moved to Amarillo, Texas so their daughter, Diana could care for Loiese. After Loiese passed away on May 5, 2010, Carlos stayed in Amarillo for a couple of years. He then began spending six months out of the year with Marci in California. Carlos did this for a couple of years before finally settling at Diana's.

The last two years of Carlos' life were spent at the Clairmont Retirement Community in Amarillo. Carlos was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Loiese; and siblings: Leslie, Kenneth, George and Cleon Cantrell and Emma Kreigh, Bernice Reinolds, Phyllis Rousseau and Velma Miller.

Carlos will be deeply missed by his daughter, Diana Hoffman and husband, Jon of Amarillo, TX; his son, Roy Cantrell and wife Clevola of Goose Creek, SC; his daughter, Marci Cantrell of Huntington Beach, CA; 8 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; his special friend, Emelyne Derr Brewer of Amarillo; and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 8, 2018 at the Anthony Christian Church. Burial will follow in Forest Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home, Anthony.

Memorials may be made to the Anthony Christian Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.