In Memorium

David J. Carey

May 22, 1935 - March 7, 2006

To a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and a dedicated teacher: we love you very much and miss you.

A memorial service will be held for Dave on Sunday, March 12, at Eline Funeral Home in Reisterstown, Maryland at 2:00.

If you would like to share memories of Dave, please click on the "comments" link at the bottom of this page (choose the "anonymous" profile if you do not have blospot login), or email me.

David James Carey was born in Marion, Iowa, to Edward and Mildred Carey. He was the youngest of five siblings: the others are Agnes, Robert, Wyoma, and Bonnie Lee. The Carey family expanded to include in-laws Clifford Johnson, Jeanne Carey, and William R. Bradley, and honorary siblings Bill and Gertie Scott.

During summers, he took several unusual jobs: In high school, he worked for the REA (now called the Rural Electric Cooperative) wiring remote farmhouses, detassled corn in Iowa, and worked at a pineapple cannery while visiting his sister Wyoma in Hawaii. For several summers in college, he stood watch in a fire tower for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico, where his brother Bob also worked, and enjoyed riding horses through the backcountry. The summer before he was married, he unloaded soybeans from boxcars--it was extremely hot, dirty work, and he lost a great deal of weight. Luaine remembers that he had a suit made for the wedding, but had to have it altered to fit him because he was so thin. He was always proud of his experience with hard physical labor, believing it made him a more well-rounded person.

He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in education and history at the State University of Iowa.

He took a teaching position in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where he met Luaine Zimmermann, and married her on September 7, 1963. Instantly, he gained eight brothers--Eugene, Lyle, Melvin, Marvin, Glenn, Roger, Warren, and Dale Zimmermann--and their wives and childen, mother-in-law Elsie Zimmermann, and father-in-law George Zimmermann.

The couple moved to Madison, Wisconsin. There, Luaine earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in library science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Dave was an outstanding PhD student in the University's department of history. He completed all but a dissertation for his PhD. Dave and Luaine's first daughter, Melanie, was born in Madison on June 2, 1964.

While living in Madison, Dave enjoyed sailing on Lake Mendota with family and took several sailing trips along the East Coast with good friends Don McTavish and Chuck Storm.

The Carey family later moved to Harford Hills, Maryland, where second daughter Shannon was born on March 21, 1976. They moved to Reisterstown, Maryland, in 1978.

Dave taught World History, U.S. History, and advanced placement history classes in Baltimore County schools for 23 years, first at Dulaney High School, then Woodlawn High School, Randallstown High School, and Pikesville High School, from which he retired in 1997. He was a dedicated teacher who expected a great deal from his students and in return put his heart and soul into teaching them. He arrived early at school each day to give students extra help, often worked late into the night to improve his teaching materials, and mentored several other teachers during his career.

During their 42-year marriage, Dave and Luaine traveled to Egypt, China, Costa Rica, Peru, and Mexico City, and in summers took road trips across the country to visit relatives and friends. Dave shared a love of table tennis with neighbors and friends and a love of woodturning with his dear friend Don McTavish and several of his brothers-in-law. He was an avid reader and loved acoustic guitar music.

He is also survived by sons-in-law Christopher Hall and Daniel Lyons, and grandchildren Victoria Summer Hall, Sydney Grace Hall, and Zacharias Byrd Hall.

He began smoking at a young age and tried many times to quit. About five years ago, he quit for good, but was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in spring 2005. He died of complications from lung cancer on March 7, 2006.

Memorial contributions may be made in Dave's name to: the American Lung Association of Maryland, Executive Plaza 1, Suite 600, 11350 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21031, or (410) 560-2120. Please include a note to designate funds for lung cancer research.