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Obituary: Jeffrey F. Carr, home contractor, musician

Fri, Dec 2nd 2016 05:20 pm

April 13, 1948-Nov. 17, 2016

Jeffrey Forrest Carr, a former Grand Island resident, passed away Nov. 17, 2016, in his home in Tomball, Texas. He pursued a variety of careers, ranging from professional musician, to home contractor to airline mechanic.

Born in Buffalo, he moved to Grand Island with his family in 1951. He was the son of the late Robert F. and Joanne P. Carr.

He graduated from Grand Island High School in 1966, studied music at Fredonia State College and completed his bachelor's degree in airline maintenance at the University of Texas.

Among his many talents, he was an accomplished musician who played trombone with rock 'n' roll greats on tour. He shared the stage as an opening act with Frank Sinatra Jr. at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe and renowned blues guitarist Buddy Guy at the Newport Folk Festival. He toured with Sonny Turner, a former member of the Platters.

He was playing Dixieland music in Western New York establishments when he was only 14 years old.

A highlight of his musical career was playing trombone on the hit single "Disco Lady" on the TV show "The Midnight Special" in the early 1970s with soul music star Johnny Taylor.

This past summer, he was thrilled to play in the 50th reunion band with fellow members of the GIHS Class of 1966.

He was an excellent swimmer who, in his youth, swam across the Niagara River from Grand Island to the Canadian shores. He was a lifeguard at Beaver Island and Allegany state parks.

He worked as an airline mechanic at McDonnell-Douglas in California; an assembly manager at General Motors in Arlington, Texas; head waiter at Reunion Tower in Dallas; and a real estate agent in Tomball, Texas.

In recent years, he ran his own home contracting and repair business, called "Wise Old Owl," in the Tomball area and in Westfield, New York, his summer residence. In retirement, he worked as an Uber driver in Texas.

He held the office of High Priest in the Mormon Church and was devoted to his faith.

He married Enedelia Nelly Garza Carr in 1998. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Alexzandra Carr and Celeste Hudson; a son, Todd Carr; three brothers, Daniel, Timothy and Michael; a sister, Karen Carr Keefe; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A brother, Gary J. Carr, and one grandson predeceased him.

Services were held Nov. 23 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Houston.

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