Raymond Stephen Offutt

Raymond Stephen Offutt was born on 14 September 1937, in Independence, MO. to Raymond S. Offutt and Iris (Wood) Offutt. Raymond and his brother, David, would be raised in a home emotionally severe but loving and stable. He learned how to work and was afforded every advantage his devoutly Catholic-convert parents could provide up to graduation in 1960 from the University of Notre Dame with masters degrees in English and Economics.

Raymond spent most of his long career working for the federal government. While he labored for a few different agencies, he worked longest, and was most proud, for his years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco Tax. In his late years he would recount his involvement in various organized crime cases in the Saint Louis area and his still-breaking adventures in the Missouri Ozarks.

In June of 1959, Raymond married Pamela Kobe of Sugar Creek, MO. To them were born four children; Bradley, Ann, Paul, and Bruce. After 15 years that marriage ended. Raymond married Joyce Walker Morehouse in August of 1976. Although Raymond and Joyce begat no children, Raymond proved to be a serviceable father to Joyce’s progeny; David, Donald, Susan, and Robert. Raymond and Joyce lived and loved for better than 44 years, until Joyce’s sudden death in September of 2020. Since that time, Raymond lived alone, but for the company of two much spoiled Pekinese. He enjoyed reading, calculus problems, Kansas City Royals baseball games, his friends, and avidly prayed the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours—every page, every day.

Raymond Offutt did not brag about his successes or his failures. He did not pretend to have been a saint. He tried to understand his blind spots. In the end, afflicted as he was with a very slow, painful illness, he cared about the people who took care of him. He deeply wanted to be loved and tried to assure his friends that he loved them too.

He is survived by his four children and Joyce’s children also. He very much believed in prayer and would be so grateful to have yours for the eternal repose of his soul.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Noon on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 S. Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO 64055.