Michael Carey, 83
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 hour, 45 minutes AGO
Carey
Jan. 1, 1942 to May 8, 2025
Mike was a New Year’s Day gift for Paul Carey and Evelyn Sutton Carey. The third of their children, he grew up in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Unfortunately, his mother would be diagnosed with — and die from — cancer, leaving him quite vulnerable at a young age. His happiness came from fishing with his brother-from-another-mother, Cliff (Nicki) Anderson, and from playing basketball. And there were several people who made a big difference in his life, including Scuffy and Esther Anderson, who became a second family, and Rolly Williams of NIC Basketball.
After graduating from CdA High School (and a brief stint at NIC), Mike joined the Air Force — spending most of his time abroad — and became quite skilled and in-demand at solving complex problems with radio equipment. He had an insatiably adventurous spirit and enjoyed travel his entire life — from the early days in Scotland (where he set a basketball scoring record for the entire U.K.), to later accepting non-military assignments on Ascension Island in the South Pacific (where he could regularly spearfish for dinner), and in South Africa.
However, his roots were strong, and in the late 1960s he decided to return to the U.S., where he eventually met Kristine Kuehnle of Spokane. They fell in love and were married in 1971, raising two daughters together in Montana, and later moving back to Coeur d'Alene. They were married for 35 years.
In 2007, he met and married Adriana Jimenez from Medellin, Colombia, and would live out his days with her in Medellin and the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Mike is remembered for his inner strength, devotion to God, ability to make friends wherever he went and his passion for helping others.
He lives on in the hearts of his wife, Adriana Ramirez Carey of Colombia; daughters Beth Carey of Athol and Jenna (Derek) Sandin of Coeur d’Alene; stepdaughter Eliana Ramirez; mother-in-law Margarita Jimenez; Cliff and Nicki Anderson; his grandchildren; and the many members of his extended family and friends.
His memorial service was held in Colombia.