August 25, 1941 – March 9, 2025

Dennis J Carey, long time resident of Glenwood Springs, CO, recently of Nokomis, FL died in Sarasota on 3/9/2025.
Dennis was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Kaye Carey in 1983. He was married to Chris McGovern for 37 years. Although Dennis had no biological children, he was father-to-five by adoption & step-parenting : Kris Carey, Amanda Carey Tucksen (Willie), Blaine L. Carey, Heather Salg (Ted Lengwin), and Douglas Salg. His grandchildren are Nia Tucksen, Peter Lengwin, Birdie Salg, Sasha Lengwin, & Ivy Carey. He is survived by his sister, Laura Carey Steinmann (Bob), & brother Emmons Carey.
Sept ’67- Aug ’69 Dennis served in Vietnam, 173rd Airborne, as tank commander (1st Lt.) At news of his death, a fellow soldier wrote to say ” I would not have made through the Army without him. He helped me get my life together after Vietnam and became the rock I could lean on all these years. He is the strongest and smartest man l have ever known. I will miss him.”
After Vietnam, Dennis graduated from the University of Texas-El Paso & became a Federal Special Agent CID (Criminal Investigations) for the US Treasury. As an agent, he often worked with the FBI, DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) as well as with county sheriffs & local police to form task forces in the fight against cartels and smugglers.
In 2000 he retired from the Feds and became involved in numerous charitable projects. He helped set up the 1st Elks Strawberry Days Hamburger Stand/for scholarship fund: so successful they melted the family grill! He participated in Disabled-Veterans Ski Days in Snowmass. He ‘set’ flags at Veterans’ graves on Memorial Days. In Florida, he became a member of the Combat-Vets-Motorcycle-Association, riding his big Kawasaki to accompany Veterans’ funeral processions as part of an honor-guard. In 2016 President Barak Obama awarded Dennis the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
His kids wrote: “Dennis has been a caring, committed, consistent FRIEND, Colleague, Brother, Husband, Father, Step-Father, Uncle, Brother-In-Law, Grandfather, Grand-Uncle, Father-In-law; the list is incomplete…his hard work & selflessness serve as an inspiration and example”.

Funeral at St Stephen Catholic Church, Glenwood Springs CO, on Saturday April 5th 2025 @ 11:00 am.
Immediately following the funeral- there will be a Celebration of Life at the Glenwood ELKS LODGE.
Burial will be July 3rd 2025 11am at Sarasota National Cemetery.