John J. Carey
WEST STOCKHOLM — John J. Carey, 75, passed away Sunday at his home while under the care of his family and Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 19th at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Potsdam, NY. Burial will follow the service at the West Stockholm Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call at the Garner Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
He is survived by his wife, Duana Carey; two sisters, Margaret Green of Hagerstown, MD, and Elizabeth (Betty) Lyman of Potsdam; two daughters, Cynthia Warburton of Bethel, AK, and Diane Burdick of Saranac Lake, NY, and one son, Kevin Carey of West Stockholm; 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his brother, William (Bill) Carey.
John was born to Harry Carey and Marie Sullivan Carey on December 17th, 1933 in his family home in Potsdam, NY. He was a 1951 graduate of Potsdam High School. After high school, John worked for the Racquette River Paper Company, joined the Naval Reserves and was drafted by the Army in 1953 during the Korean War.
John married Duana Dorothy in Raton, NM on April 9th, 1955, and again on April 13th, 1955 at the Sacred Heart Church in Colorado Springs, CO. John worked for the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company until 1964, Clarkson College of Technology from 1964-1978, and The New York Power Authority from 1978 until he retired in 2004.
He was a member of the IBEW local 2032 of Massena, the Moose Lodge of Potsdam, and the Elks Lodge of Potsdam where he became active in retirement and served as a Trustee since 2004. John also served on the Stockholm Planning Board and was a past member of the West Stockholm Volunteer Fire Department and the Stockholm Recreation Commission.
Throughout his life, John was an active outdoorsman enjoying fishing, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling and motorcycle riding. He was a member of Little Blue Mountain Hunting Club and Roaring Brook Club in Colton, NY, and Weller Mountain Club in Parishville, NY.
Over the years he enjoyed playing golf, softball, bowling and coaching girls softball and Little League Baseball. He was a life long supporter of all Potsdam athletics and he was a Boy Scout leader. John also enjoyed home renovation projects regularly and making furniture in retirement.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in John's honor to Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern New York, Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad, The American Cancer Society, and the West Stockholm Volunteer Fire Department.
Condolences can be sent online at www.garnerfh.com.
