Craig LaVerne Carey, 55, of Baker City died Aug. 10, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with Tenee, his dearest love present.
Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Church near Sumpter.
Craig was born on April 18, 1953, at the Mountain Home Air Base in Mountain Home, Idaho, to Marion and Marian Carey.
He grew up in Grangeville, Idaho, where he attended school and received his GED. After high school, he joined the Army Air Corps and served 10 months in Vietnam on a helicopter as an open-door gunner. In 1976-77, he attended Lewis-Clark College in Lewiston, Idaho and received his diploma in auto body and general business.
He married Darlene Uptmor on Aug. 4, 1979, in Keuterville, Idaho. They were later divorced.
He lived in the Spokane, Wash., area and worked as an auto body mechanic before coming to Sumpter. He was employed by Dave DeRoest Construction for a short time.
His career and work ethic ended with three major accidents, the first one in 1994, the second in 2003 and the most recent in September 2007. Disability and pain has been his daily lifestyle the past 14 years from the accidents, which he dealt with at ease.
Craig loved the outdoors and the woods. In his early years, he was active in the Boy Scouts, being only one merit away from his Eagle badge. He enjoyed camping and being with his friends and family.
He is survived by his two daughters, Christine Carol Carey of Baltimore, Md., and Leslie Imelda Carey of Portland; father Marion Carey of Boise; mother Marian Robb and her husband Wayne of Sumpter; brother Ricky Dale Carey Sr. of Baker City; foster sister Becky Trainer of Grangeville, Idaho; brother-in-law Walter Pilot of Gresham; dear friend Tenee Cashmere of Baker City; two nieces, Lindsey Pilot of Gresham and Melissa Morris of Baker City; three nephews, Ricky Carey Jr. of Baker City, Christopher Carey of Baker City and Michael Carey of Muskegon, Mich.; and many aunts, uncles, relatives and friends who all were so special to him and supportive of him.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Rae Pilot.
Arrangements are in the care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 13, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor