Celebration of Life for Richard Lee Carey, Sr., age 89, of Tipton, Oklahoma will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the Tipton Church of Christ with Joe Waugh officiating. Services are under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick. Mr. Carey passed away Monday, March 2, 2020, at his home in Tipton.
Richard Lee Carey was born on December 12, 1930, on a farm near Hobart, Oklahoma to Rufus Lee and Ovie Esther (Patterson) Carey. He grew up in Hobart, Sentinel, Altus and Carnegie, Oklahoma. He attended Carnegie High School, graduating with the Class of 1949. Richard worked at Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, for a short period before enlisting in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Germany for two years. After returning home, he enrolled in Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. In just three years, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1958. He and Shela Faye Baker were united in marriage on February 18, 1967, in San Angelo, Texas. Richard was a band director for twenty-nine years. He taught at Temple, Oklahoma, Paducah, Texas, Waurika, Oklahoma, Baird, Texas and Tipton, Oklahoma. Richard also taught other subjects such as Music Theory, Science, American History and Math. After he took an early retirement from teaching, he worked at Sam's Grocery Store, then Legg Grocery in Tipton for eleven years. Mr. Carey was a faithful member of the Tipton Church of Christ where he served as custodian for twenty-five years, taking care of the church building and fellowship hall. He served on the Tipton Housing Authority for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shela Faye Carey of the home; one son, Richard "Richy" Lee Carey, Jr. of Shreveport, Louisiana; one daughter, Catherine "Cathy" Elizabeth Carey Tortolini of Newcastle, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Brett Havener of Shreveport, Louisiana, Logan Tortolini of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lynlee Tortolini and Catelyn Tortolini both of Newcastle, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four siblings, Raymond Pope, Ruby Pope, Billy Max Carey and Milford Pope; and one daughter-in-law, Deborah Carey.
Memorials contributions can be made to the Tipton Children's Home in memory of Richard Lee Carey, Sr.