Earl Lee Carr, 90, of Fairfield, passed away on June 2, 2026, at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield. He will be remembered as a steady, hardworking man who found joy in simple pleasures, treasured routines, and the people and places that shaped his life.
Earl was born on July 15, 1935, in Van Buren County near Douds, Iowa, to Clyde and Edna Steele Carr. He graduated with the Fairfield High School Class of 1953, then served his country in the United States Army for two years while stationed in Germany. Not long after, Earl settled into the work that would define much of his life. He began working at Dexter Foundry while still in high school and remained there for 47 years, retiring in 1999 after a long career marked by dedication and dependability.
Outside of work, Earl enjoyed the things that made life feel familiar and fun. He looked forward to Saturday nights at the Knoxville races, and he took pride in driving Big Red and his El Camino. In retirement, he found a new rhythm in daily bicycle rides along the Fairfield trails, a pastime that brought him both peace and pleasure.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Glen; his nephew, Michael Carr; and his brother-in-law, Allan Gilliland.
Left to cherish his memory are his brother, Gene Carr of Quincy, Illinois; his sister, Joan Gilliland of Clive, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Fell Cemetery in rural Libertyville, Iowa. Memorials in Earl’s honor to the Fairfield Loop Trail may be left at the funeral home or mailed care of Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Old Carr’s never die ~ They just run out of gas.
