Obituary: Carl Dean Mansfield

Carl Dean Mansfield went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, at the age of 82.

Carl was born April 30, 1938, in Clovis, to Clois (Cates) and Charley Mansfield. Carl moved to Shafter with his parents and siblings around 1950. He attended Shafter High School, where he met Shirley Mae Clayton, and they married in 1955.

Carl went to work for Pure Grow, where he worked in farm pest control until the mid-70s, when he changed careers to drive big rigs for Thompson Trucking and years later became an owner/operator.

Carl loved the Lord with all of his heart and shared his faith with everyone he came in contact with and led many of his friends to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Carl loved to sing karaoke with his now wife Joyce (Coble) Mansfield, and watching Gunsmoke with her, where he would tell her everything that was going to happen because he had seen the episodes so many times.

He also loved camping at the beach and going for drives, peanut butter milkshakes and Joyce's home cooking. But most of all he loved being with his family. Carl was such a joy to be around -- he always had a great story to tell (real or made-up, it was hard to tell the difference); he told the best jokes and was always there to listen to our problems and give the most wonderful Godly advice

Carl attended and was a deacon at the First Southern Baptist Church in Shafter.

Carl was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley, and second wife Frances (Jan), son Randle Dean, his parents, one brother and four sisters. He is survived by his wife Joyce (Coble) Mansfield and two daughters, Stephanie Sherman of Shafter and Kobie Carrasco (Sam) of Shafter; five grandchildren, Tiffany Beltran, Jami Carrasco, Jacob Carrasco (Anna), Sarah Bradford (Cristina) and Emiley Uribe (Joe); 10 great grandchildren, Christian, Molly, Morgan, Jett, Sabastian, Ariel, Caleb, Samantha, Zoey and Emma; nieces, nephews and many friends.

Our dad was truly a blessed man; he showed love, kindness, joy and humor to all he met and taught his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to love unconditionally and what a real man of God was.

A celebration of life service will be held on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at First Southern Baptist Church, 250 Kern St. Health cautions will be observed.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Carl Mansfield Memorial Fund, First Southern Baptist Church, 250 Kern St, Shafter 93263.