Omer Carey

1929 -

Sep 21, 2020

Omer Ligon Carey, age 91, died in Anchorage, Alaska, from cancer on Sept. 21, 2020. He graduated from Forest City High School in Illinois in 1947. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University followed by a Masters and Doctorate from Indiana University in Business Administration.

He taught at several universities prior to arriving in Alaska in 1973 to teach at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). On retirement from UAA he taught at Alaska Pacific University, New Zealand with a Fulbright award, and Mesa State in Colorado.

He received many awards, but his favorite was an Endowed Chair, Faculty Chair of Financial Education, at Washington State University created by a former student.

As the result of having two children with intellectual disabilities, he was very active in advocating for services on the local, state and national levels for those with intellectual Disabilities. This lead to active involvement in Special Olympics and the Special Needs Boy Scouts Troop.

Besides his wife, Carol, of 66 years, he leaves his children, Rev. Gayle Nauska, Craig, Dale (deceased), Bryan (Bronwen) and Grant. Omer's grandchildren are Clyde (Kyndall) and Brianne. Great-grandchildren are Nathan and Natalie. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia (Delbert) Spaits; and many nephews and nieces.

Donations can be given to Anchorage Special Olympics, P.O. Box 140316, Anchorage, AK 99514.

Family to announce service information at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted with Janssen Funeral Homes.