Dorothy D. Carey

Dorothy D Carey (nee DeWalt) peacefully passed away at Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties in Middletown on June 30, 2025, at the remarkable age of 104+. Born December 10, 1920 to Charles and Emma DeWalt (nee Gilmour) in Worcester, Massachusetts, she led a life of caring, kindness and generosity along with sharing her interest in piano, choir, dogs, cats, wild birds, reading, solitaire, sudoku and crossword puzzles. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Paul S Carey in 2002, and her nephew Dom Bruce DeWalt in 2024.

After high school Dorothy worked in administration and bookkeeping in Worcester, before moving to St. Petersburg, Florida where through a co-worker she met and married Paul. She worked in Yellow Springs, Ohio while Paul attended Antioch. After his graduation they moved to Bay City, Michigan where she worked, and they started a family. Dow Chemical then transferred Paul to Midland, Michigan where they settled down. After the children started school, she worked many years for National Residence Service then KinderCare into her 70s. She and Paul moved to Otterbein Retirement Community in Lebanon, Ohio in 2001. She remained independent living for 23 years, receiving home healthcare in 2019 until moving into assisted living in June 2024. Dorothy would participate in weekly exercise, volunteer for court responsibilities with her neighbors and at the library. She was well known and loved at Otterbein amongst residents and staff.

Dorothy is survived by her three children: Leslie Ann Carey, P Stephen Carey, Philip Brian Carey and a daughter in-law Yoko Moriyama; two grandsons: James Nichols and John Carey, their respective spouses: Jennifer and Julia and two great grandchildren plus one more on the way. In addition, she is survived by many generations of in-laws affectionately referred to as the Oak Parkers located around Chicago and now Detroit. Dorothy was a force of nature, who pulled and held her family together.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 12:00 pm until the time of her funeral service at 1:00 pm at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason. Interment will immediately follow her service at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mason.

In lieu of flowers, family asks that you consider donating to Smile Train, one of the many charities Dorothy supported for many years. https://www.smiletrain.org