Roy Gravett

Roy Gravett, 89 of Carson, IA, passed away Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Oakland Manor in Oakland, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson. Burial will be in the Farm Creek Cemetery, Henderson, IA.
Visitation for family to greet friends will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson is caring for Roy and his family.

Memorials: Directed to the family

OBITUARY
Roy Ernest Gravett, 89 of Carson, IA, passed away Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Oakland Manor in Oakland, IA.

Roy was born on April 5, 1936 in rural Emerson, Iowa, the fourth of five sons of Clyde Cecil Gravett and Gayle Leona (Boileau) Gravett. He spent his boyhood days growing up on farms around Emerson, riding his horse Patsy to school and graduating in 1954 as the Emerson Eagles High School Senior Class President.

Roy was united in marriage to Virginia Kay Bare and they would raise three daughters and two sons, Sharie, Cindy, Roy, Vicki, and Michael. After a few early years of agricultural work, the farm sold and Roy began working for a local International dealer, who also owned the Emerson Elevator. Roy worked as a mechanic and also ran the elevator. One day a trucker asked how he was doing and Roy answered, “For two cents I’d quit this job because it’s definitely not for me!” The trucker handed him two cents, Roy took it, shut down the elevator, locked the doors and quit that very day.

At that time, with four kids to support, Roy needed to find another occupation fairly quickly. He heard there was a demand for electricians and in 1959 he became an employee at OK Electric Incorporated. In 1962 he joined I.B.W. Local 22, and in 1965 he graduated from Apprenticeship School, where he was awarded “Outstanding Apprentice of the Year”. This job was a good fit as Roy rarely missed a day of work and continued to have an amazing work ethic until his retirement from OK Electric after forty-three years.

Roy was active in the Carson Volunteer Fire Department (25 years), Parent Teacher Association, Grist Mill Productions, the Emerson Alumni Association, the Hastings Little Britches Rodeo (as a rodeo clown), and the Carson Methodist Church and Sunday School. He also kept busy on his acreage, expecting his kids to work right alongside him. Roy and Kay’s marriage would later end.

Roy married Karen (Hecker) Kjelgaard and together they were blessed with a daughter, Callie. Their union would end and Roy later married Cheryl Haines, with their marriage ending in divorce.

Roy married Carol Joan (McKenzie) Henderson at the Wheeler Grove Church where he would become a member. Throughout his life, Roy enjoyed traveling, dancing of any kind, raising and riding horses, attending livestock sales, and playing cards. Spending time with friends and family were favorite activities for the couple. Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren were definitely their pride and joy.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Franklin Gravett, Jack Gravett and William Gravett; a son Michael Gravett; and a stepson Rob Henderson.

Roy’s memory is honored by his wife Carol Gravett of Carson; children Sharie (Lee) Dinklage of Malvern, Cindy (John) Sayers of Malvern, Roy (Kim) Gravett of Treynor, Vicki (Bob) Kvaal of Emporia, KS, and Callie Kallsen of Carson; step children, Rod (Sheryl) Henderson and Rhett (Lindsey) Henderson; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; brother Galen Gravett of MN; and other relatives and friends.