Margaret Jeannette Carey

Margaret Jeannette Carey (Keown), better known as M.J. Carey, 79, of Prescott, Arizona, passed away on September 10, 2024, from natural causes at home.

M.J. was born on November 17, 1944, in La Junta, Colorado, the daughter of Herbert Lee Keown and Margaret Ruth Riley. Her childhood included attending St. Barnabas grammar school in Long Beach, California, and Marymount High School in Palos Verdes, where she graduated in 1962. She attended Long Beach City College and graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Business in 1966.

M.J. married Charles B. Carey on March 16, 1968, in California at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Long Beach. M.J. and Chuck were married for over 56 years, celebrating life together and raising a family in Huntington Beach and Coto de Caza. Their four children (Christen, Cathy, Craig, and Colin) were the center of M.J.’s life and love, and they were all strengthened by her fierce and gentle spirit. 

Her professional career began early at Allstate insurance. Later, she worked for Bank of America in Huntington Beach. After she left a career in business to raise her family, she worked as Religious Education Director for the newly formed San Francisco Solano Catholic Church, and the bookstore at the high school—both in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

M.J. was an avid reader her entire life. Inspired by stories away from home, she traveled the world on her own at a young age and encouraged her family to experience life in different places. From summer camping trips in San Clemente, to family trips and adventures in Yosemite, Lake Powell, and New York City. M.J. always made it a point to get away from the normal life and expose her family to a range of opportunities with almost yearly family vacations. That love of exploring the world lives through her children and grandchildren, many of whom have spent significant time living and traveling both in and outside of the U.S.

The oldest of 4, her love of family began immediately with her 3 brothers. M.J. had a maternal instinct that demonstrated a life of love and acceptance—not only with family, but also with babies and dogs, or anyone that just needed that extra bit of thoughtfulness in any given moment. Her family was her life force, and her unconditional love and loyalty for her family and friends remained one of her defining traits.

Ever humble, M.J. never liked the limelight, but she was a conversationalist all the same. She loved to talk to everyone, which even got her in trouble as a child. She had a force and a gentleness that, although contradictory, were meshed seamlessly in her passion for loving her family, and displayed often with her powerful voice and contagious laugh. As her family grew with additional in-laws and grandchildren, her love and joy expanded. To her delight, her four children found their “perfect” matches that she had prayed for, as she valued marriage and commitment and wanted her family to experience this partnership of unconditional love. 

In recent years, as the busyness of California tired them, she and Chuck moved full time to the mountains of Prescott, Arizona. She attended mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church regularly and continued to find solace and joy through her faith, praying the rosary daily in honor of anyone that needed a little extra care. Those offerings of help were M.J.’s reason for living, and she found immense joy in helping others. 

Remaining to cherish M.J.’s memory are husband Chuck Carey; children, Christen and Anthon Vermaerke, Cathy and Lewis Kohnle, Craig and Amy Carey, and Colin and Mina Carey; grandchildren, Kevin and Michelle Vermaerke and Lila and Eleanor Carey; brothers, Lee Keown, Riley Keown, and Kevin Keown; in-law family, Bob and Maureen Carey, Michael and Heidi Carey, and Gordon and Tracy Carey; along with many nieces and nephews. These and many others will miss her, but are also happy she is now, at peace.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.  Ever charitable herself, any donations to a couple of her favorite charities are welcome in her honor.

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A Funeral Mass to celebrate M.J.'s life will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 2:00pm, at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church, located at 22082 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688.