Richard Carey

Ricard Drew Carey

Minden, LA Richard Drew Carey, 78, passed away Friday, November 29, 2013 after a lengthy battle with heart disease. Visitation will be at Rose-Neath Minden on Monday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Minden at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 3.

Richard was the son of Harvey Locke Carey and Katie Elizabeth Drew, both of Shreveport. Richard is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Joyce Lou Humphries of Minden. A devoted family man, he is also survived by his son Greg, and wife Patti, their children Ryan and Lauren; and his daughter Amy, her husband Darin, and their children Aidan and Piper. Other survivors include his brother Thomas Drew Carey of Ruston, his sister Katie Carey Sims of Houma, and scores of cousins, nieces and nephews.

After transferring from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport his senior year, Richard graduated from Minden High School in 1952. He studied at the University of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, Mexico City College, and graduated with a degree in History and English from Louisiana Tech. He was an ardent Arkansas Razorback fan who loved a good rivalry, and was never shy about "calling the Hogs".

Richard worked for Geophysical Services Inc. in Saudi Arabia, India, and Pakistan in the late 1950's. After working and traveling extensively in the Middle East and Europe, he returned home to Minden and married Joyce in 1961. The couple relocated to Houston where their two children were born. The family moved to Olive Branch, Mississippi and then to New Orleans where Richard was general sales manager for American Photo-Copy. In 1971, the family moved back to Minden in order for Richard to take over as broker at Katie Drew Carey Real Estate, which had been established by his mother in 1951.

During the course of his real estate career, Richard and Joyce developed nine subdivisions in and around Minden, and partnered in more than 25 apartment complexes throughout the state. Richard's tireless efforts to develop the economy of Minden and south Webster Parish led to growth which included the development of LA HWY 531 and the I-20 service road. Richard believed in the importance of education on any level, and donated a portion of the land that is now the home of the NW Louisiana Technical College in Minden. He was also instrumental in the development of the Minden Recreational Complex.

Richard was Chairman of the Minden South Webster Chamber of Commerce in 1995, and named Minden's Man of the Year in 1999. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Minden Lions Club (past President), the NRA, SHARKS, the Ark-La-Tex Gun Collectors Association, and The Confederate Historical Association of Belgium. He was on the Minden Medical Center Board of Governors from 1998-2000, an Honorary Citizen of the City of Woluewe-Saint-Lambert, served on the Louisiana Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission, was Aide de Camp on the Governor's Staff 1973, and served on the Republican Executive Committee in 1976. Richard was also very proud to be instrumental in the 1979 Jerry Lewis Trans-America R/C Relay.

Richard was a man of many interests and unbounded knowledge. He loved history, art, music and travel, but above all else, his family.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all of the doctors, nurses, aides and therapists who cared for Richard during his illness.