Doris Carey

Feb 17, 1932 -

May 4, 2024

Heaven has received an extraordinary angel!

Doris Mary Carey was born on Feb. 17, 1932, in Waunakee, Wis., to Chris and Irene Ripp, and died on May 4, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Growing up on her family's farm, one of 13 children, Doris learned from a young age that hard work and a strong faith was the key to a successful life. She told many stories of her early life on the farm, including learning to operate tractors at 12, and driving the hogs to market at 14.

Doris married Raymond Carey on Oct. 7, 1950, just months after her high school graduation. The newlyweds spent their early years living on a houseboat on Lake Mendota in Madison before moving to Waunakee to start their family.

Ray and Doris had nine children in Wisconsin before moving to Alaska in 1966. The family of 11 drove the Alcan Highway, dad in a pickup truck with camper and Doris in the family station wagon. It was a long journey as in '66 the highway was still a gravel road. The family made it to Anchorage, safely only to find the house Ray had looked to purchase was sold. Their only choice was to camp out for the summer until they found another house. Doris was amazing keeping it all together: cooking for her large brood, washing diapers in Eagle River and dealing with the rain and hordes of mosquitoes. It was a welcome sight when the family moved into their new home off Dowling Road with plenty of room for the kids to adventure in the great outdoors. Doris went on to live in the family home for over 56 years.

Doris took a part time job at the newly opened Sears Roebuck store in Anchorage in 1966, working in the hosiery department for over 25 years. She retired in 1991, to babysit her grandkids. All of her grandkids have fond memories of their Grandma Doris, she made each and every one of them feel special.

Anyone who knew Doris knows how she liked to stay active. She was a longtime Visit Anchorage volunteer, and loved working at the airport's international terminal so she could greet the German visitors and try out the language she was studying to speak.

She was the founder of the German conversation group Deutsche Freunde, which met weekly over coffee and great companionship.

Doris was active in the Plumbers Auxiliary for years, which took her and Ray all over the world to international plumbing conventions.

An active member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church; she also found time to teach religious education classes.

Doris loved to go to the family cabin at Big Lake, mostly she took great joy in all the family coming and cooking meals for everyone, no one went hungry! She also enjoyed joining her kids and grandkids on family camping trips in Alaska, and traveling to Wisconsin for many family reunions. Hawaii was a favorite destination, as her and Ray had attended plumbing conventions there ever year.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Raymond Carey; brothers, Jerome, Edwin and Thomas Ripp; sisters, Arlene Schmitz and Irene Rose; and son-in-law, Jay Johnson.

She is survived by her children, Colleen Carey, Patricia Mohrmann (Eric), Michael Carey (Suzanne Egan), Dan Carey (Denise), Jane Johnson (Dave), Kevin Carey (Tara), Kathy Donlan (Jeff), Maureen Johnson and Paul Carey (Lisa). Also surviving her are siblings, Jeanette Dorman, Sally O'malley, Leon Ripp (Mary), Walter Ripp, Anita Garcia (Phil) and Maxine Wilson; and very special sister, Edna Resari (Chad).

She leaves behind grandchildren, Sean Morkal, Andrew Mohrmann, Katie Baer, Alex Mohrmann, Kayla Carey and Kenzie Carey, Rachel Dooley, Brent Carey, Lucas Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Zac Carey, Madison Kang, Rayce Carey, Patrick Donlan, Carly Donlan, Taylor Johnson, Emily Rosenbaum, Molly Johnson, Nic Carey, Mitch Carey, Kristen Carey, Marcus, Carson and Ellie Patterson; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass for Doris will be held at St. Benedict's Catholic Church on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 2 p.m. Reception to follow in the parish hall. Those who cannot attend may watch the service live streamed on the St. Benedict's Facebook page: St. Benedict AK.