David Carey Obituary – On Monday, March 25, 2024, J. David Carey, who was 71 years old and from Cedar Rapids, passed away at Mercy Medical Center following a transient illness. At the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, there will be a visitation on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from four to seven o’clock in the evening. The arrangements for a Celebration of Life Service are going to be made at a later time.
J. David Carey was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on November 14, 1952. His parents were John and Dorothy Carey. In addition to providing financial support, his extended family was instrumental in the establishment of the Cedar Rapids Community Theater. David’s aunts were significantly involved in the production of Playtime Poppy, and his father was on stage in a play that was performed at Grant Wood’s art studio, which is where David would later reside.
He received his high school diploma from Washington High School in 1970 after attending Arthur and Franklin schools till then. When he was a young boy, he began his acting career by participating in the Cedar Rapids Community Theater play Auntie Mame. He also participated in a number of shows during his high school years. He referred to himself very affectionately as a “theatre jock.” While he was a member of The Gambling and Gourmet Society (which consisted of a lot of gambling but no cooking), he was also a member of the Young Republicans, if you can believe that.
J. David went on a bike trip throughout Europe with his pals during the summer following his graduation from high school before enrolling at Iowa State University. In order to fulfill his dream of appearing on television like Jacques Costeau, he decided to major in biology. On the other hand, he quickly realized that performing was more enjoyable than studying science, and as a result, he changed his major to theater at the University of Northern Iowa (with a minor in biology).
Following his graduation, he became a member of a well-known improv comedy company that was performing all throughout Cedar Rapids. His fellow members included Tim Boyle, Richard Barker, and Nina Swanson. In addition, he was a part of the Post Script Ensemble, which was responsible for engaging the community in the Community Theater.
Before returning to Iowa and getting a Master of Fine Arts degree in Arts Administration from the University of Iowa, he briefly sought a professional acting career in Seattle and led a touring theater group in Minneapolis. During the 1980s, he relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he secured employment with the State Arts Council. During his time in the bush, David went fishing, hiking, and camping, and he learned about rodeos, of all things.
However, he eventually made his way back to the community theater (TCR), where he was promoted to the position of Marketing Director and pursued his passion for theater by directing a number of plays. According to David, he eventually was promoted to the position of Financial and IT administrator for TCR. This was in accordance with the Peter Principle.
David was not only employed by TCR, but he was also instrumental in the establishment of Cedar Rapids Counseling & Psychotherapy, which was a practice that included Alex and a number of other therapists. He also worked for them as their reliable business manager, information technology consultant, and general jack-of-all-trades for more than a decade.
