Raymond C. Carey

Ray Carey, age 75, of Rimrock, AZ passed away at his home on May 28, 2010. He was born at Slater, Wyoming. He attended schools in Wheatland, Wyoming. At an early age he learned to farm with draft horses, starting his love of horses. He had a special way with horses, having a deep love and respect of them. As a young man the call of the rodeo and bronc and bull riding called him. He once said if it had hair on it, he could ride it. He operated and drove an oil field truck line to Alaska from Casper, Wyo. He was an integral part of the oil fieldhence he was known as "Mr. Oilfield" to a lot of men. Over the years, he spent from 1968-1992 or so in Alaska learning the oil business from the ground up. He had a lot of exciting times and on these experiences, he thrived. He was a crane operator being called from all areas to come and work. The exciting times when the weather send up a big blow and white out at 70 degrees below and the wind so fierce, 135 mph (at Prudhomme Bay), you had to be roped up to keep on your feet. He had the highest certification of crane operator and sought after various crane operations as a consultant and operator in the U.S. and abroad. Filling 42 gal drums 1/3 full of water which froze to guide you back to camp with your barrel as a blip on the sonar screen. So many exciting things he experienced. Along the way, he had thurobred race horses and a stable in Goodyear Arizona for the Wigwam Resort. He was introduced by his sister Val to Janice Hitt from Slater, Wy. They were married in Sedona, AZ in August 2001. They worked the Western Adventure business with hay rides, steak dinner and trail rides. After tiring of the "Dude" business, they helped at the Bar-X ranch in Young, AZ on the Mongolian Rim. Ray was a great welder making BBQ stoves for other ranches, McDonalds Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ and M Diamond Ranch in Rimrock, AZ. Also designed and built barns, horse tanks, feeders and flat beds for pickup trucks, etc. In June 2009, Ray came home from working with the Voorhees International Oil Rig operation in Houston, TX. Ray was returning to work when in March of 2010 he was slowed down with cancer. He is survived by his wife Janice and a son and daughters and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind many friends and families and his dogs, Chico, Blu and Killer. He was preceded in death by parents Harvey and Cora (Carter) Carey. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 4 at Westcott Funeral Home, 631 First St., Camp Verde, AZ at 3:00pm. In lieu of flowers, any contributions may be made to Janice Carey, P.O. Box 677 Rimrock, AZ 86335. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com