Raymond Earnest Winchel, 72, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Sunday, May 5, 2013 at his home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2013 at the Peculiar Cemetery in Peculiar, Missouri. Friends may call from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, May 10 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri with Masonic services at 8:00 p.m.

Raymond was born February 10, 1941 in Peculiar, Missouri, the son of Ernest Everett and Marguerite Mae (Flanery) Winchel. He married Elizabeth L. Eastham on June 18, 1976 at the Freeman Baptist Church in Freeman, Missouri, officiated by Brother Joe Brewster. He lived in Harrisonville and Peculiar for most of his life.

Raymond worked as a maintenance supervisor for several nursing home facilities, retiring in 2009. He served as the Police Chief of Peculiar for 15 years and also served as a Deputy Sheriff for Hickory County, Missouri. He was a member of Grand River Masonic Lodge No. 276 in Freeman, Missouri.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth, of the home; one son, Navy Commander Djueno Scot Searles, Mobile, Alabama; one daughter, Leesa Lynn Wiseman, Peculiar, Missouri; three brothers, Don Winchel, Peculiar, Missouri, Harold Winchel, Olathe, Kansas, and Robert Winchel, Wellsville, Kansas; two sisters Darlene Coleman, Peculiar, Missouri and Retha Cohee, Thompson's Station, Tennessee; and his pride and joy - six grandchildren, Hannah Wiseman, Kelsey Searles, John Kampe, Megan Searles, Chloe Kampe and Clarissa Kampe.