In Loving Memory of Raymond Dean Carnes, Jr.

The Whippoorwill Foundation was created in memory of Raymond Dean Carnes, Jr., a man who loved the outdoors, loved his animals, and never met a person he couldn’t make laugh.

Born in Newport, Arkansas, Raymond spent nearly 50 years in Austin, Arkansas, where his farm became a place that reflected so much of who he was. He raised cattle as a hobby for more than 40 years, along with goats, horses, donkeys, dogs, birds, and just about any other animal that found its way into his life. His cattle knew his voice and would come running when he hollered, “C’mon Bud!”, usually knowing that something good to eat was coming.

For 40 years, Raymond also made his living behind the wheel as a truck driver. Like many truck drivers, he had a CB handle, a name he was known by over the radio. His was “Whippoorwill.” The name stayed with him for decades and became a part of who he was, recognized by the people he talked to on the road and eventually becoming a nickname that his family will always associate with him. It felt fitting that the name he carried for so many years would ultimately become the name of a foundation carrying his legacy forward.

But Raymond’s happiest place was outside.

He loved fishing, squirrel hunting, riding through the woods, and spending time on his boat and camping. He especially loved visiting wildlife refuges, any refuge could make for a good day. Sometimes he didn’t need a plan. He simply enjoyed riding through the woods, taking in the scenery, watching the wildlife, and being where he felt most at home.

Raymond was a kind, gentle, and genuinely funny man. He was a true jokester who loved making people laugh, and his sense of humor was one of the things people will remember most about him. He loved his family, his partner of more than 20 years, Donna, his five children, numerous grandchildren, and the life he had built around his home, his farm, and the outdoors.

In late 2025, Raymond’s health began to decline. By February 2026, he had lost his mobility, and as his illness progressed, he became increasingly confined to a bed. For a man who had spent his life outdoors, surrounded by animals and constantly on the move, losing the ability to get outside was incredibly difficult.

More than anything, Raymond wanted his mobility back. He wanted to fish. He wanted to ride through the refuge. He wanted to be outside.

He couldn’t have known that the things he longed for during those final months would eventually become the inspiration for something meant to help others.

The Whippoorwill Foundation carries Raymond’s love of the outdoors forward by giving individuals living with severe or terminal illnesses the opportunity to experience the freedom, peace, and joy of being outside.

Every hunt, fishing trip, and outdoor adventure provided through The Whippoorwill Foundation is a way of honoring Raymond, and a reminder that even during life’s hardest seasons, there are still memories waiting to be made.

For Raymond, the outdoors wasn’t just something he enjoyed. It was where he belonged. And that is the legacy we hope to share with others.