Chad Elliot Carroz

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Chad Elliot Carroz was born December 3rd, 1973 in St. Charles, MO to Rick and Kim Carroz.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Kim Carroz of Warrenton, MO. Grandparents Elmer and Dolores Carroz of Warrenton, MO. Grandparents Kenny and Connie Woolf of Salem, MO.

Chad began his career in radio while he was still in high school on KWRE-FM in Warrenton, MO. He would continue that passion by joining the Zimmer Radio family in 1991. He worked in the Cape Girardeau, MO, Lawrence, KS, Columbia, MO, Carbondale, IL, and Joplin, MO markets over the course of his career with Zimmer Radio.

He was the voice of the KZRG Morning News Watch for over a decade. One of his proudest moments while working on air was his team’s response to the May 22, 2011 tornado. 

Chad and his team were instrumental in delivering life-saving information during the moments of the tornado and afterward. Even after losing his own home, he stayed on the air for 9 days to make sure others affected had the information they needed to find their family members and seek aid. 

Ten years later, Chad would still get stopped out in the community and thanked for his efforts made during one of the most difficult times Joplin has seen. He did not do it for the accolades, he did it because he loved his community, he loved listeners, and it was what needed to be done.

Chad’s passion for radio, community and local advertisers earned him the position of Market Manager for Zimmer Radio, Joplin in 2016. It was his lifelong dream to achieve this accomplishment. He would spend his time as Market Manager working closely with local business owners to build their brands and grow their business helping them reach their own lifelong dreams.

Chad loved his team and fellow co-workers at Zimmer Radio. Chad saw them as more than just people he worked with, they were his family.

While working for WCIL-FM in Carbondale, IL Chad met his wife, Monica in 2001. Monica was a teller at a local bank where Chad would make weekly trips until he worked up enough courage to ask her out. They were married on June 13, 2007, on the beach in Key West. They were the loves of each other’s lives. They were together almost 24/7 working side by side at Zimmer Marketing and at their own small business Rustic Mountain Puppies.

Chad was passionate about his family. He loved his daughter, Mattilee, with every fiber of his being. He was a proud dad of all of her accomplishments. He was looking forward to encouraging her and rooting her on in her upcoming senior year of high school and watching her walk across the stage next year earning her high school diploma.

Chad loved to travel. Chad and Monica discovered the beauty of Alaska during their first Zimmer Radio Alaska cruise in 2014 and would visit the state every year after that. He surprised her with an anniversary trip in 2017 to renew their wedding vows on their 10th wedding anniversary.

Chad is survived by his wife Monica Carroz and his daughter, Mattilee Carroz of Diamond, MO. His father, Rick, and Stepmother, Cheryl Carroz of Warrenton, MO. Aunt and Uncle Donnie and Roxie Neeley of Warrenton, MO, Aunt Robin Lewandowski of St. Joseph, MO. Uncle Kenny and Lori Woolf of Salem, MO. Monica’s grandma, Mary Lou Alford of Diamond, MO. And special and close friends Steve and Melissa Cox of Neosho, MO.

Chad has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Missouri Broadcasters Association since 2020. He served District 5 in Southwest Missouri. Prior to that Chad was a member of the MBA convention committee. Chad was an ex-officio Board Member for the Neosho Chamber of Commerce, a member of the board for Heartland K9 for Veterans, and a member of the Heartland Pet Breeders Association.

His contagious smile and boisterous chuckle will forever be missed.

Contributions to Heartland K-9 for Veterans