Myrtle Carey
Dec. 23, 1926-July 11, 2024
Portola Valley, California
Submitted by Theresa W. Carey

Our beloved Myrtle C Carey, wife, mother, friend, mother-in-law, companion, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and great-grandmother, passed away on July 11 at home in Ladera at age 97. She was surrounded by her five children, their spouses, several grandchildren and close friends. A celebration of her life will be held at Ladera Community Church, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley on August 31, 2024 at 11am. Following the service there will be a gathering of friends and family in Peabody Hall.

Myrt was born on December 23, 1926 in Chicago, IL to Tiburcio and Mary Alida (Gifford) Ciprian, and came home to her three brothers, Gene, Art, and Joe. She graduated from Fenger High School, Chicago, IL, then attended Mosher Business College. While at Mosher, she became secretary to a vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Myrt married Robert Carey in 1947, and they moved to Ann Arbor, MI where she assisted the Associate Dean of the Literary College, while Bob attended the University of Michigan under the GI Bill.

Their first son, Robert, was born in Michigan prior to their move to California after Bob’s graduation. Settling down in Concord, CA, Myrtle gave birth to son, Kent, daughter, Dawn, and identical twin sons, Paul and Glen. Raising five children gave her the impetus to organize a neighborhood baby-sitting cooperative. In the mid-1960s the family moved to Claremont, CA, staying until Mr. Carey's employment began with Beckman Instruments in Palo Alto. They settled into the community of Ladera in Portola Valley, CA, where Myrt lived for 56 years.

In the early 1970s, Myrt began volunteering to work with children in the Las Lomitas School District, first as a classroom volunteer coordinator for the Early Childhood Education program, then as a teacher's aide for the District and the Primary Education Center. She later worked at La Loma and La Entrada Schools as an office assistant and secretary.

In 1978 she began working for Weidlinger Associates, a New York consulting engineering firm with offices in Palo Alto, where she became Office Manager. After retiring in 1986, Mrs. Carey began traveling with her husband, painting watercolors, exploring creative writing and enjoying her grandchildren.

Mrs. Carey was an active member of Ladera Community Church for decades, where she sang in the choir and served as music liaison on the Board of Deacons. She pursued watercolor painting and creative writing as a member of the Palo Alto Writers Workshop, Peninsula Outdoor Painters, Menlo and Ladera Art Leagues and the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society. She entered her paintings in numerous local shows and many can be found in local private collections.

Myrt raised her five children to be full members of their communities, and to love and support their children with her example. She was a people person who delighted in hosting dinners and barbeques for friends, family, and business acquaintances in her home. She had a gift for gathering people together, and was a devoted and caring friend to many.

Surviving Mrs. Carey are her five children: daughter Dawn Schaniel (Steve) of Los Gatos, CA; sons Robert R. Carey of Portola Valley, CA, Kent W. Carey (Theresa) and Glen P. Carey (Lynn) of Palo Alto, CA, and Paul G. Carey (Natasha) of Mountain View, CA. She is also survived by ten grandchildren—Kyle Carey (Kelly Kapp-Carey), Kenzie Lovegood, Colleen Carey Lough (Ryan), Kate Carey Easwar (Kapil), Stephanie Schaniel (Michael Pickelein), Stacie Schaniel, Clay Carey (Allie), Kristen Carey, Philip Carey and Elizabeth Carey— and three great-grandchildren—Bliss Kapp-Carey, Reagan Lough and Cormac Carey. She is also survived by her dear companion Werner Hauser, her housemate Marla Mather, and many grand-nieces and -nephews.

She will be terribly missed by the Ladera Community Church congregation and many dear friends. Myrt set a beautiful example of being a lifelong learner, which inspired all of her children to attend college. Her children credit Myrt’s inspiration for their academic achievements.

She leaves a legacy to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of deep caring and loving concern for one another. In 2002, Myrt wrote an essay in which she asks her family, “…To be true to themselves in every way, so that they may grow to be the kind of person that others look up to and admire.”

Myrt is pre-deceased by her husband of 66 years, Robert S. Carey, her three brothers, and her sister-in-law Dorothy Carey Howe. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the music fund at Ladera Community Church, The Canary Foundation, or the American Heart Association.