Carroll Ray Phelps

Dr. Carroll Ray Phelps, PhD, or as those who knew him best, Carroll Ray, passed away on November 15, 2024, in Eldorado, Illinois, surrounded by his wife, sons, brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews. Carroll was born on January 3, 1946, in Texas City, Illinois, to his parents, Cecil and Hazel Phelps, who predeceased him. Surviving Carroll are his wife, Chris Phelps; sons, Kelly Phelps (Kelly Lynne) and Aaron Phelps (Arianne); grandchildren, Kennedy Carroll Cockrum (Dallas Cockrum), Kole Phelps, Victoria “Tori” Phelps, and Jake Phelps; great-grandchild, Lyncoln Rae Cockrum; brothers, Larry Phelps (Kathy), David Phelps (Leslie), and Dennis Michael “Mike” Phelps (Barbara); brother-in-law, Mark Bauer; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend to the family, Sue Easton.

Carroll was a lifelong Christian and member of Star Church. Prior to his death, he was the longest serving member of Star Church, second only to his older brother, Larry. He served Star Church in many capacities such as choir member, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and numerous committees. His death leaves a huge void at Star Church which will be inevitably filled by the next generation of faithful members.

In the fall of 1955, Hazel entered her 4 sons into a talent contest singing gospel music as a quartet. They won first place and hence, the Phelps Brothers were born. Carroll and his 3 brothers spent the next 65 plus years singing gospel music all over the United States. The Phelps Brothers sang professionally full time from 1972 to 1978 touring with other well known gospel groups such as The Oak Ridge Boys, Stamps Quartet, and the Blackwood Brothers. The Phelps Brothers were nominated in 1973 by the Gospel Music Association as Best New Group. They were also the first gospel group to sing at the new Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Carroll was the bass singer for the group and also the comedic relief often interrupting his brother Larry, the group’s emcee, to tell one of his many entertaining stories. Anyone that ever heard one of Carroll’s stories is well aware that he never let truth get in the way of a good story.

Carroll was a lifelong educator. He began his career in education teaching high school in Eldorado, Illinois. By the late 80s/early 90s, he began transitioning from the classroom to school administration. In 1996, he earned his PhD in education from SIUC. Soon after, Carroll became the superintendent of schools at Gallatin County, Illinois for several years. He concluded his career in education as superintendent of Hardin County schools.

Carroll was a leader in the field of education, both as a teacher and an administrator. He was constantly seeking ways to improve the educational process and implemented many programs to benefit the learning environment of his students. He was president of the Eldorado teacher’s union in the early 1970s and led one of the first teachers’ strikes in the State of Illinois. In 1988, he became principal of Eldorado High School and started a child care center located inside the school. This allowed students with young children to remain in school but also care for their child throughout the school day. Because of this center, several young parents were able to  obtain their high school diploma. While superintendent at Gallatin County, he recognized there was a lack of access to medical care for students and their families. Carroll understood that a productive learning environment and quality healthcare went hand-in-hand so he coordinated with a health system in Evansville, Indiana, to create the Gallatin County Wellness Center, which has been providing primary care services for the Gallatin County community since 2003. Towards the end of his career in education, Carroll became a faculty member and professor at Oakland City University in Indiana. During his time at Oakland City, he started a Doctor of Education (EdD) doctoral program. These are just a few of his many accomplishments. Despite his storied career in education, perhaps what Carroll was best known for was his love for his students.  He had a particular heart for the “underdog” student and was known for taking them under his wing and encouraging and mentoring them not only during their time in school but long after many of them graduated.

Carroll loved his family. Sunday was his favorite day of the week because it meant he got to spend time with church family followed by time with the Phelps family at their legendary Sunday dinners that was began by his mother, Hazel. He and his wife, Chris, were inseparable and loved doing anything so long as they did it together. Carroll and his 3 brothers were each other’s best friends. The brothers and their wives made a habit of going to dinner together on Friday nights in Marion, which usually concluded with a trip to Carroll’s beloved Starbucks (which he often referred to as “Fivebucks” due to its expense). He also dearly loved his 4 grandchildren, Kennedy, Kole, Tori, and Jake. He stayed quite busy attending their sporting events, recitals, and plays. Perhaps his most special of all relationships was the one he shared with 2 sons, Kelly and Aaron. Their father was their hero. They loved each other deeply and shared a uniquely close bond.

Visitation for Carroll will be held at Star General Baptist Church in Eldorado, Illinois, beginning at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The funeral will follow immediately at 1:00 pm with the Reverend Aaron Phelps officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made for a memorial scholarship being created for students entering the teaching profession in honor of Carroll’s legacy in education.

Finally, the family would respectfully request that no one fact check this obituary since most of the foregoing was passed down to us by Carroll Ray.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family via the website www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com