Carlos "Los" Celaya

Carlos Celaya passed away peacefully at home Thursday, February 26, 2026. He was surrounded by his family, who remarked that if love could heal, he would have lived forever. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Laura, and their children Pepa, 23; Trey, 22; and Ellie, 16; his 4 sisters, 7 nieces and nephews, 9 grandnieces/grandnephews, his cousins throughout Spain, and the many friends he made in his 58 years.

Affectionately known as the most interesting man in the world, Carlos loved to tell stories and entertain. He was stoic and stubborn, refined and elegant, and incredibly warm and loving. He was defined by his love for family and friends and his passion for life. He was the guy you called in the middle of the night and then laughed about it with him the next day. An avid outdoorsman, Carlos – referred to as "Los" by his friends -- spent as much time as possible either kayaking the rivers of Savannah or at "Camp Los" in Sandersville, hosting fireside chats and an annual Father/Child campout from which the children invariably returned home with dirty feet and stories to tell.

Carlos' parents moved to the United States from Spain in 1954. His father was a Fulbright Scholar who became a urologist. Born in Atlanta in 1967, Carlos was the baby of the family; his four older sisters lovingly referred to him as "The Prince." Growing up in Atlanta in the 1970s with the name Carlos was not easy, but he owned it. He loved history and, with his dad, enjoyed collecting art and artifacts from Spain and around the world. After graduating from The Lovett School, Carlos attended Presbyterian College, majoring in Political Science and Spanish with a minor in Portuguese. He was vice president of Theta Chi, where he developed lasting friendships with a group of loyal men who have stood faithfully by his side ever since.

He started his career in Chicago in the packaging industry and was transferred to Los Angeles. In 1993, when he and Laura met at a party, she knew her life was forever changed. They married 6 years later in Manhattan Beach and had an amazing celebration with friends and family where everyone danced all night long. From California, they moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay and started their family with Pepa and Trey. This place for Carlos was heaven on earth, hunting in the fall and winter, fishing and crabbing in the spring and summer, and kayaking from his backyard.

They moved to Savannah in 2004. With the birth of Ellie in 2009, their family was complete and Carlos instilled in his children the values he cherished: being a steward of the land and a true and loyal friend with Southern graciousness and manners. Of all his endeavors, he was most proud of his faithful children, their accomplishments and human traits.

Carlos was devoted to giving back to his friends and community. For 10 years, he served as a volunteer and chairman of Candler Clays Shoot and Auction, an annual two-day charity event in Savannah that raises funds for cancer care; he was an avid supporter of Angel Flight, president of the Executives' Association of Savannah, and member of the Rotary Club of Savannah. He is survived by his wife Laura of 27 years and their children Maria Josefa "Pepa," Carlos Llovera III "Trey" and Estelle Lurana "Ellie," and by his sisters Cristina Roe of Atlanta, Carla Heard of Dallas, Ana Mercer of Savannah, and Mary Jo Dooley of St. Simons Island, Ga.

A memorial service will be held at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church at noon on March 28, 2026, and a celebration of life immediately following in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in his memory to Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, 412 Parkersburg Rd., Savannah, GA 31406, or to Angel Flight Soars, Inc., 2000 Airport Rd. Suite 227 Atlanta, GA 30341, https://angelflightsoars.org/