James Edward Carney

1948 - 2022

James Edward Carney
November 2, 1948 - January 18, 2022
Lompico
James Edward Carney, also know as "Eddie" or "Crazy Ed", was born in Long Beach, CA, on the second of November, 1948. Eddie died in his home, under the redwood canopy of the Santa Cruz Mountains, of COPD on January 18, 2022.
Eddie was a prolific story teller, opinionated, and generous. At the same time, he was reclusive and rarely left his remote mountain cabin. He had a passion for Harley Davidson bikes, Volkswagens and Corvettes, reading mystery and realistic fiction, fishing, growing roses and marijuana, drinking whiskey, grilling, and rooting for the underdog. He rolled though life, searching for and picking up family and friends along the way.
Eddie Carney was not an easy man to love; He was complicated and battle scared, and lived life like it was on fire. He was filled with warm love, but if you got too close you could get burned.
He volunteered for the front lines as a foot solider in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade, in the C Company, where he survived the infamous Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. For his service, he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device Combat Infantryman Badge.
Eddie worked as a pipe fitter and was a proud card carrying union man of the Plumber and Steamfitters Local #62. Since 1979, he maintained memberships in United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and the Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada.
In his retirement, he gave generously to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and devoted his time as an active member of the Trench Rats, served as the Commander Leader of the Big Tree Post for the Veterans Of Foreign Wars, and codeveloped a large soup kitchen serving homeless vets at the Veterans Memorial building on Front Street in Santa Cruz, CA.
Eddie was preceded in death by JoAnne Carney, his one true love, and his father, James Leo Carney. He is survived by his daughter Adria Carney, beloved dachshunds, Pvt Chapman and Mary Lou, mother Georgia Chapman, step-mother Barbara Carney, and sister, Jackie Carney Kahanaoi.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dachshund Rescue of Northern California (http://www.drnc.org/) or Veterans of Foreign Wars (https://heroes.vfw.org/page/23487/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=Giving_Pages).


View the online memorial for James Edward Carney