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Earl Carey passed away at home on June 29, 2024 at the age of 97. He was born on April 10, 1927 to Roy and Alta Carey in Hartline, WA, and was the fourth of six children. Earl’s family lived across from the Hartline School and Earl took pride in saying that he could stay in bed until he heard the last five-minute warning bell and still be in his seat on time. Earl graduated from Hartline High School and attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, WA. He served in the US Army as a proud WWII veteran and after his service he worked as a meat cutter and grocery clerk for his brother-in-law at Medical Lake. His father, Roy, was Postmaster at Hartline and passed away from a heart attack in 1948. Earl returned to Hartline to serve as the Officer-in-Charge of the Post Office and in 1950 was appointed Postmaster by President Harry Truman. Interestingly, Earl had taken a year out of high school to fill his father’s shoes when his dad became ill and bed-ridden for many months. So early on Earl learned how to run an efficient post office. We know that because he received an unexpected visit from a postal inspector and he was able to proudly show his dad that he passed with flying colors. Earl married Nadeen Tanneberg on October 22, 1948. Their first two children, Candy and Robin, were born while they lived in Hartline. In 1964 Earl and his family moved to Wenatchee, WA, where their third daughter, Tami, was born. From 1965 to 1979 Earl owned several local businesses, including the Wenatchee Transit and Charter company, Yellow Cab, Carey Ambulance (sold to his good friend, Clyde Ballard), and several service stations, including Valley North Shell and Chelan Avenue ARCO. Earl sold the businesses in 1979 and rejoined the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in Wenatchee. He was appointed as a Postmaster at Rock Island in 1986 and later served in Waterville and Malaga. He was a member of the National League of Postmasters, eventually serving as the Washington State President for three years. In 1992 he was selected as Washington State’s Postmaster of the Year, and that same year at the national convention, he received the coveted award of “National Postmaster of the Year” . Later he was elected to a two-year term as National Vice President and then to a two-year term as National Treasurer. Earl retired from the Postal Service in 2006 after serving almost 45 years. Earl made a decision as a young man to serve Christ all his days. In his early years he was active in the Coulee City Assembly of God church and often was leading music for their services and directing their choir. He and Nadeen made a great pair, as she played the organ and he led the singing. In Wenatchee he was a long-time member of the Wenatchee Free Methodist church (now Sage Hills), where he served for many years on the Board and as a Conference delegate. One of his favorite things was serving with Nadeen as leaders of the primary department, which they did for many years. Earl enjoyed giving back to his community. While living in Hartline, he was a volunteer Fire Department member for 15 years, including serving three years as Fire Chief. He also served on the school board there for many years. In Wenatchee, Earl was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club for many years. In his early time with the club, he served as President for three years and was also named Kiwanian of the Year in 1972 and 1975. In his retirement years he was a faithful member, attending weekly until he was 93, and was most known for his weekly updates on the Mariners. Sports was a lifelong love. As a young man Earl played baseball and basketball on town teams. In Wenatchee, Earl served many years as a girls softball coach and was Wenatchee Girls Softball ASA president for three years. He then served for two years as the Washington State ASA Youth Commissioner. He remembered taking the girl’s select team to their very first out-of-Wenatchee tournament, the first of many trips they made. As a grandfather, he took great joy in attending all the baseball games of his grandsons, and they in turn liked to watch Grandpa play in the Over 50 softball league. Over the years he followed many regional teams, like the Seahawks and Zags, but his real love was watching the Seattle Mariners. He went to occasional games in person, including with his entire family on his 90th birthday. Earl will be remembered by his family as a loving, kind and gentle man who loved to laugh and to make others laugh. He was always a hard worker, a natural leader who others followed willingly. He loved a good committee....we always teased him that “He never met a meeting he didn’t like!” His smile was genuine, given freely and often, and his words were always kind. He will be missed by all who knew him. Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Nadeen, in 2014, his parents, Roy and Alta Carey; three brothers, George, Gene and Rodney; and two sisters, Eva Flathers and Carol Swigart. Earl is survived by his three daughters Candy McPherson (Greg), Robin Carey, and Tami Lopushinsky (Pete); grandsons Josh McPherson (Sharon), Carey McPherson (Tarah), honorary grandchildren Abby Tanneberg and Casey Tanneberg; great grandchildren Ella Mae, Levi, Niyah, Amelia, Silas, Gideon, Lielle, and Seth; a sister-in-law Virginia Carey from Colbert, WA; brothers-in-law Ward Tanneberg from Issaquah and Doug Tanneberg (Patsy) from Coulee City; one remaining cousin, Pauline Dingman of Spokane; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Our deep thanks to the local hospice organization. Every person who saw Dad was friendly, compassionate and professional. Special thanks to Stacey, his assigned hospice nurse for 14 months; Misty and then Edgar, his CNA’s; all the hospice doctors, and the many others who provided wonderful care. You will always hold a special place in our hearts. A Celebration of Life service will be at Grace City Church Chapel, at 277 Melody Lane, on July 8th at 11:30am. Lunch will be served following the service. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice or to Mobile Meals of Wenatchee, who fed him lunch for the last nine years! Mobile Meals PO Box 1343 Wenatchee, WA 98807

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Earl C. Carey

April 10, 1927 - June 29, 2024