Cay Carithers

Cay Carithers, 84, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at River Oaks Health Campus. He was born on September 30, 1941, at St. Francis Hospital in Macomb, Illinois, the son of Joseph E. and Mildred E. (Schroder) Carithers. He married Paula Anderson and she survives.
Cay graduated from V.I.T. High School in Table Grove, Illinois. He began his career at Kenray Brass in Vermont, Illinois, where he worked for several years before joining the Amax Sun Spot Coal Mine, also in Vermont. After the mine closed, Cay relocated to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, where he continued his mining career at the Wabash Mine.
Cay will be remembered by his wife, Paula Carithers; son, C.B. Carithers and wife, Christina of Corinth, Mississippi; step children, Diana Hogue, Jeff Malcolm and Donnie Malcolm; grandson, Airion Carithers; granddaughters, Cheyanne Carithers and Keisha Carithers; step grandchildren, Trevor Henson, Nathan Henson, Mikaela Hoehen, Autumn Torres, Jacob Malcolm, Jaxson Malcolm, Kyleigh Owenby; great grandchildren, Quenton Carithers, Castiel Carithers, Autumn Carithers, Dominic Carithers and Ezra May; step great grandchildren, Ashton Curt Banks, Keaton Cay Banks, and Zayden Cropper.
Cay was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joan Carithers Dalton; brothers, William Carithers, and J.B. Carithers.
In keeping with Cay's wishes, no public services will be held at this time. Cay will be laid to rest with family in Vermont, Illinois.
Keepes Funeral Home is serving the family with the arrangements. To view Cay's tribute wall, and leave condolences for the Carithers family, please visit www.keepesfuneralhome.com