Peachie Carey

PEACHIE CAREY

Cedar Rapids

Peachie Carey (Dorothy Anne Sophian Carey) passed away Thursday, May 19, 2016, in Tolleson, Ariz., following a sudden illness.

Peachie was born Nov. 18, 1943, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Dr. Abraham Jr. and Dorothy Murphy Keck Sophian. She attended schools in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Chapel Hill School for Girls in Waltham, Mass. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., for one year. Peachie worked a variety of jobs over the years, including Quaker Oats and the Iowa Department of Revenue. She retired from Coe College after 24 years, where throughout those years she worked as a secretary in the admissions office, as secretary to the faculty in Hickok Hall and Dows Fine Arts and recruiting and general secretary in Eby Fieldhouse.

While at Coe College she became involved with the International Club, making a large number of close friends, both international and domestic. She also served as president and secretary of the International Club for one year each. One of her fondest memories was directing the largest and most successful cultural show for the club. She also became involved with the men's soccer team, managing and traveling with the team for many years. Her proudest accomplishment was completing her bachelor's degree and graduating from Coe in 1998 with majors in English and African American studies (the latter, with honors).

Peachie was involved with the Community Theatre of Cedar Rapids for many years until leaving to become one of several founders and secretary of the Olde Barn Players Dinner Theatre, which performed at the Longbranch Restaurant in Marion. She was proud of her theatrical debut in the musical "Oklahoma," as well as the two productions she directed there.

Peachie's other interests included extensive reading, needlepoint, cross stitch embroidery, knitting, watching movies, her children's activities, lunches and dinners with friends as well as interacting with the friends she made on the computer.

Peachie is survived by her beloved children, Matthew Stephen Carey of Tolleson, Ariz., and Jessica Anjali Carey of Oakland, Calif.; her brother, J. David (Alexandria) Carey of Cedar Rapids; her two "brothers," Gary Armstrong and Tom Doely of Phoenix, Ariz.; her "sister," Maureen Lord of Laconia, N.H.; many cousins throughout the U.S.; and very special friends, Jim Fowler, Mickey Wu, Carrie Powell, Mary Remington, Jim and Patti Owara, Rajiv and Sudeshna Ghosh-Pandey and Rajesh Parwatkar.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Abraham Sophian Jr.; her mother and stepfather, Dorothy Murphy Keck Sophian and John Frick Carey; her brother, Michael Edward Carey; her infant daughter, Abigail Sophian Carey; paternal grandparents, Dr. Abraham and Estelle Felix Sophian of Kansas City, Mo.; and maternal grandparents, Eugene and Genevieve Murphy Keck of Philadelphia, Pa., and Cedar Rapids.

Per Peachie's wishes, her body was cremated and the ashes will be released in Arizona. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Coe College Clark Alumni House, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA.

Peachie asked that memorials be directed to the W. E. Spellman Fund For Summer Research at Coe College, in honor of the late Dr. William E. Spellman, a dear friend, c/o of Dr. Mickey T.C. Wu, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Remember me with smiles and laughter

For that's how I will remember you all.

If you only can remember me with tears

Then don't remember me at all.

~unknown~