In Memory
James Albert Carrico Jr.
Jul 12, 1950 - Jun. 4, 2026
James A. Carrico Jr., lovingly known as Jim and "Babo" to those who cherished him most, went home to his Savior on June 4, 2026. Jim never expected to live past 70, so celebrating his 75th birthday last year was an epic event for both him and the family he loved so deeply. Jim was born on July 12, 1950, in South Bend, Indiana, to James A. Carrico Sr. and Louella Carolina (Elick) Carrico. He was the third of four children and, by most accounts, the feistiest and most strong-willed. That determination showed itself early in life when he survived being struck by a car while riding his bicycle home from school in 1962. After spending six weeks in the hospital, including his 12th birthday, Jim refused to let any of the physical challenges slow him down. He was raised in Kentucky, but returned to Northern Indiana in 1966, just in time to graduate from Clay High School.
On August 15, 1981, Jim married the love of his life, Karen (Speraw). Together they built a life centered on faith, family, laughter, and adventure. Jim always said his first two priorities were Jesus and his family, and he lived those values every day. Jim was recently told that he was extremely generous, and his response to the person sharing was this “I am not. Any semblance of generosity you see in me is Jesus”
Though born in Indiana, Jim often said he was "born a Hoosier, lived a Hoosier, and died a Hoosier, but lived life a redneck." Jim remained deeply rooted in the Bluegrass State. He proudly celebrated his Kentucky heritage and loved sharing the places, people, and stories that shaped him. Family members knew that the moment Jim crossed the Ohio River heading south, any worries he carried seemed to disappear. Kentucky was his happy place, made even sweeter when shared with those he loved.
Professionally, Jim built his career through hard work, persistence, and genuine care for others. He worked for Whitehall Laboratories in Elkhart for 23 years, one month, and one day, but who's counting? He later spent 23½ years as a real estate broker with Cressy & Everett before retiring in 2016. For Jim, real estate was never simply about houses. He found immense joy in helping people achieve the dream of homeownership. Over the course of his career, he helped hundreds of Michiana residents purchase their first homes. Many returned to him for their second and third homes, and generations of families sought his guidance, trusting that Jim would work tirelessly until they found exactly the right place to call home.
Jim was also a landlord and real estate investor for more than 50 years, building lifelong relationships along the way. His personal rule when purchasing rental properties was simple, he would never buy a home he wouldn't allow his own daughters to live in. In addition, he owned and operated C&R Enterprises, a construction, repair, and house-flipping business for more than 40 years.
Jim was anything but ordinary. He was larger than life, a gifted storyteller whose tales somehow got better with every telling. He always had a joke ready and was known for telling stories so far-fetched that family members would refuse to believe him, only to find themselves researching the facts and eventually conceding that Jim was right. More than one family wager was settled because of one of his stories. Even while planning his own obituary, Jim managed to leave behind a few dad jokes. As Jim would have reminded his family that “There is no such thing as a free cat,” “There's no such thing as cheap paint,” and “Count your cash before you dash, or count your dough before you go!”
Jim also believed in serving his community. He was an active member of Optimist International, serving as club president twice and as a board member for many years. He volunteered throughout the community and faithfully supported missionary efforts around the world.
Jim lived life to the fullest. He bowled in leagues, competed on horseshoe teams, and rarely sat still for long. He was handy beyond measure. Among his many projects, he even dug a basement beneath the family's 1895 home. He always had a project underway and was happiest when building, repairing, or improving something.
Of course, anyone who knew Jim also knew one other thing: he was almost always late. Fortunately, his sense of humor made it hard for anyone to stay upset with him.
One of Jim's most memorable adventures was attending clown college, where he became "Babo the Clown." He loved practical jokes, harmless pranks, and making people laugh. Whether entertaining children, teasing friends, or finding creative ways to surprise family members, Jim brought fun wherever he went.
Travel brought Jim some of his happiest memories. Hawaii was, in his words, paradise. He loved road trips to Las Vegas and enjoyed taking his grandchildren to Disney for the first time, creating memories they would carry forever. Of all his travels, no destination ever rivaled Kentucky, where he could stop by the homes of family and friends unannounced, settle into a chair, and visit for hours.
Above all else, Jim loved his family. He often worried that his strong work ethic might be misunderstood, but those who knew him best understood that everything he did was for the people he loved. His work never came before his family. It was one of the ways he cared for them. Even bank tellers, store clerks, and strangers quickly became friends because Jim truly knew no strangers. His pride and joy was always his family, and some of his greatest happiness in later years came from spending vacations, holidays, and everyday moments with those he loved most.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Karen; his daughters, Laurie (Mike) Gonser and Jamie Carrico-Ferrell, seven grandchildren; Sabreana (Joey), Sireana (Montana), Kelsey (Steve), Jordan, Lexi (Keenan), Brady (Kimberly), and Brittin; seven great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Ed Carrico, Theresa (Fred) Schlotter, and Judy (Greg) Linder, along with many extended family members, friends, clients, neighbors, and former customers whose lives are better for knowing him. He was also dearly loved by his faithful canine companions, Pitbull the Cockapoo and Spike Lee the Poodle. Jim was preceded in death by a granddaughter and great grandson.
Jim's legacy is not measured by the properties he owned, the homes he sold, or the years he worked. It is found in the stories he told, the laughter he created, the people he helped, and the family he loved so fiercely.
He was known for his stories and his jokes. He was larger than life. He loved deeply, laughed often, and never took himself too seriously. While words may never be enough to fully describe our Babo, one thing is certain:
Jim Carrico was anything but ordinary.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held the Elkhart Moose located at 1500 CR 6 W in Elkhart on Saturday June 13th at 11:00am. Cruz Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Osceola has been entrusted with his care.
In lieu of flowers, Jim would ask that you either tell someone a joke, strike up a conversation with a stranger, hold the door for someone, or donate to a no-kill animal shelter to help our furry friends. That's how Jim lived every day.
06/14/2026 DEC
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