William J. Carey, 69, of Locke and formerly Mexico, NY, left us on March 3, 2024 after enduring many medical treatments and associated complications. He felt fortunate to return to his family home, surrounded by his family and closest friends for these last few years.
Bill was delivered into the loving arms of Gerald F. and Madeline H. Carey on November 6, 1954. After 18 years of participation on the family farm and the successful completion of his Moravia High School education he proceeded to earn his teaching certification for Industrial Arts / Technology and accepted a position with the Mexico Central School District after graduating from SUNY Oswego.
He shared a lifelong passion for history and antiquities and everything Americana and New England with his family and all who knew him. He purchased and took on the challenge of restoring a two-hundred-year-old home that was unaltered from its original construction and had only one cold water faucet at the time he acquired the property. He restored the home to its former glory and then designed and built a new functional kitchen and family room addition to match the existing style with salvaged floor boards and trim molding from many homes of the same period that were slated for destruction.
After retirement Bill devoted most of his attention to helping others of the elder community with a large focus on his parents and family. He is survived by sisters Anne (Albert) Mantey, Maureen (Steve) Shaw, Eileen (Chuck) Rankin, Katey (Dave) Romancik and one brother John (Bev) Carey, also by his Aunt Joanne Neville, first cousin Marlene Neville and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Gerald F. and Madeline (Hart) Carey, a brother, Thomas Carey, and a niece, Carolyn Carey.
Family and friends may call at the Shurtleff Funeral Home, 103 Lincoln Ave., Groton, NY on Monday, March 11th from 4-6pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 12th at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Groton, NY.
Memorial contributions are graciously directed to St. Anthony's Church, 312 Locke Rd., Groton, NY 13073 or to St. Anne Mother of Mary Church, P.O. Box 487, Mexico, NY 13114.