Wayne Carey dedicated his life to others by helping them find work and transition careers — something that those who were close to him believe speaks volumes about the kind of man he was.
Although he studied political science and briefly worked in law, he realized his passion for helping others, which led him into a long-standing career in human resources.
“Working with people was what Wayne was all about,” said Olivia Thompson, Carey’s wife of 29 years.
“When people lost their jobs, he would coach them and help them find another one. Even though this was a service a company provided, everyone knew if you knew of someone who lost their job, you needed to refer them to Wayne. They’d say, ‘Just to talk to Wayne, he’ll help you.’ “
Carey died Jan. 22 after battling dementia. He was 70.
Thompson said she finds peace in knowing her husband was able to help so many people.
His professional career led Carey to various cities, including Washington, D.C., and Chicago, before settling in Detroit, where he later met his wife in 1982.
The pair married in 1987, and later moved to Denver in 1997.
“Everyone just loved him. He was outgoing, sociable, kindhearted. I never heard him say a bad thing about anyone,” Thompson said. “If someone he knew was sick or passed away, he was the person in the family who took care of those things — he was the person people could rely on.”
A celebration of Carey’s life is set for 1 p.m. Friday at Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver.
Natalie Munio: 303-954-1666, nmunio@denverpost.com or @nataliemunio
