The Honorable William H. Carey of South Dartmouth died peacefully on Saturday February 21, 2015 at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Virginia A. (Kelley) Carey; they had been married for 62 years.
Born in Fall River, the son of the late James and Mary (Doherty) Carey, he grew up in Fall River and proudly considered himself a native son of Fall River. Judge Carey and his family lived in Fairhaven for many years before he and his wife, Ginny, retired to South Dartmouth.
He was a graduate of B.M.C, Durfee High School, Providence College, and Boston College Law School.
During World War II, he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, serving as communications officer on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He was a founding partner with the late Charles R. Desmarais in the law firm of Desmarais & Carey in New Bedford from 1959-1981. He had served as Town Counsel to the towns of Fairhaven and Marion for 30 years. He was the General Counsel to Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., the Ottaway family, WNBH, and WTEV Channel 6. He was a highly respected trial attorney in state and federal courts, including a significant case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 involving newpaper reporters First Amendment rights.
In 1981, he was appointed as a Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court where he served for 14 years, until retiring in 1995. After his retirement from the Superior Court, Judge Carey served as Counsel to the Law Office of Beauregard, Burke and Franco in New Bedford. He was an early advocate and active supporter of the establishment of the UMASS School of Law in Dartmouth.
The loves of his life were his family, the practice of law, and his Catholicism. He enjoyed golfing, going to the beach, traveling, and reading. A parishioner of St. Mary's Parish in South Dartmouth, he and his wife were recipients of the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River in 1967. He had served as the chairman of the Catholic Charities Appeal and was made a Knight of St. Gregory in 1968. He was a Past President of the Fall River Clover Club and a longtime member of the Country Club of New Bedford.
He is survived by his wife Virginia, six children, Bill and Jane Carey of Fairhaven, Susan Carey of Maynard, Robert Carey of New Bedford, Gregory and Winnie Carey of Holliston, Christopher Carey of Fairhaven, and Paula and Bob Berg of Columbus, OH; his sister, Helen Kirkman and her family of Fall River; eleven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brother, Frank Carey.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11:30 AM at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. A private family burial will take place in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Donations in his memory may be made to the UMASS Dartmouth Law School Scholarship Fund, 333 Faunce Corner Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02747. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.