Raymond Gustaf Erickson

Raymond Gustaf Erickson Born June 1, 1928 in Salina, Kansas. He began fighting liver cancer in August of this year. He lost the battle and made his transition December 6, 2014, at his home in Raytown, Missouri. He was 86 years of age. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Joan, and five children: Cathy Boney and children Matthew, Melanie, Seth, and Alex; Connie (Steve) Lee and children Kristopher, Kelsey, and Tanner; Cheryl Selleck (Mike Beatty) and children Crystal and Tiffany; Cara (Danon) Park and son Nicholai; Scott (Michelle) and daughter Savannah; and 3 great grandchildren Lincoln, Kadence, and Kendal. He also leaves his brother-in-law William Garrison and his sons Eric and Gerald and families. Ray is preceded in death by his parents Gustaf and Pearl, sister Hattie Garrison, nephew Carl Garrison, sons-in-law Mark Boney and David Selleck, and granddaughter Onnalee Park. Ray moved with his family to Kansas City in 1940. As a young man he built model cars and airplanes. He was a founding member, and President in 1955-56 of the KCTA, a drag racing organization, which founded the first official drag strip in Kansas City in the 1950s. He also belonged to Cranktwisters, and most recently Misfits Midwest. He retired after almost 45 years from Hallmark Cards, working his way from stock boy to Master engraver to specialist in metal graphics research. A self-taught craftsman, he worked on dozens of cars as a hobby, and built other unique automobiles, such as a three-wheeled motorcycle, a Crosley engine lawnmower called the “Blade” that could get up to 53 miles per hour, and a pedal car for his daughter out of a Cessna gas tank. His car buddies gave him the name of “Radical Ray” when it came to customizing cars. In 1987 he bought a 1950 Packard and spent four years chopping and customizing it. He enjoyed traveling with it and showing it at car shows. Services will be held at Unity Village in the Silent Unity Chapel in Lee’s Summit on Saturday, December 13. Visitation at 1:30pm and Memorial Service at 2:30. Donations preferred in lieu of flowers to Unity Village Chapel (www.unityvillagechapel.org), or Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. (handinhandadopt.org). For a showcase of some of Ray's work, visit: http://www.misfitsmidwest.com/members/Misfits_Members/Ray/Ray.html and http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=11334