

Carey Thomas Crockett
Carey Thomas Crockett, 80, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025 peacefully in his home with his daughters by his side.
Carey was born on November 10, 1944 and grew up in Hornesbyville, VA. He graduated from York High School in 1962 where he was a member of the York High Falcon Band, receiving an accommodation medal for Band and Orchestra Directors Association Solo Ensemble, also a part of the All-State Workshop band playing trombone.
He then attended Old Dominion College where he obtained his Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering graduating in 1966. He was very proud to partake in the initiation and organization of the Epsilon Chapter in the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, obtaining a lifetime membership.
In 1969 he joined the United States Air Force. He would travel for training and serve time in Thailand during Vietnam War. He timed out at Eglin, Florida Airfoce Base. He returned to York County working for Bendix Plant for several years. Around this time he became a father to daughter Wendy Ledford. He would eventually begin building beautiful homes with his cousin who he thought more of as a brother, Donald Shields. He was doing what he loved with someone he loved dearly building custom homes primarily in the Yorktown and Williamsburg area. One of his favorite business builds was Yorktown Animal Hospital.
Weekends and evenings he would devote his time building his home from ground up. He would tell us how he built this house with his own two hands, with the exceptions of Saturdays he would buy a case of beer and a carton of cigarettes for exchange of help from a few buddies over the year he built it in time for the birth of his daughter, Carole Crockett.
He would spend his hunting seasons camping in Pines Campground in Craig County while hunting deer with his closest buddies, Robert, Danny, TJ, Barry, Johnny and Mr. Knox. They were known as the “flat land” hunters. Named by the guys in the mountains they would annually meet…Tom, Freddy, Danny and Darrell.
In 1987, Meg, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, was his best friend. She went everywhere he did and could probably build a house herself after being with him for all of his builds. He would later operate the score board at Richmond and Langley speedways in the 1990s. Aside from hunting, racing was a true passion and hobby. Dale Earnhardt being his favorite Nascar driver. He would bring his girls to races at Langley when he couldn’t make it to the actual Nascar races. Every year at Mardi Gras he would meet his friends Tom and Jeannie.
In 1999, he would begin working with his electrical degree in the York County School system. He was very proud to be a part of the redoing the Bailey Field scoreboard and PA system. Meg had passed, he would later get Penny, his second Chesapeake Bay retriever. He retired after 11 years with York County Schools. When speaking to his former boss he quoted “He was always willing to do whatever needed to be done, didn’t matter if it was in his job description or not. He may have been a little grumpy, but he was dependable. If he said it was gonna be done, it was done.” Following with a story of “that reminds me of” to go along with it.
Carey would later go on to retire and travel, take cruises and enjoy retirement with Irena who was a great joy in his life. He would enjoy spending time with his grandchildren, of course until they would almost break something or work his last nerves. Irena passed prior to him and he would often request to go to her gravesite.
Daddy loved when his daughters would come visit him and take him to Cinco De Mayo’s or just simply listen to stories of his childhood and memories he loved to share of life. Diet Dr. Pepper and Jack Daniels was his drink of choice as he would sit in the garage and monitor all the things that took place in the neighborhood while spoilng his rescue dog, Eli.
The man always had a story of life experience for nearly everything. He could often be described as “cantankerous” as there will never be another like him. Very set in his ways, never met another to change them. He always maintained a hard outer shell to attempt to hide the “soft and mushy” soul he had.
His daughters want to personally thank Dawn, Bri, Beth, Liz and Sheila for helping provide the best care possible towards his last days. So many will miss him. His most recent best buddy, Eli, daughters and those who had the honor to know him all find joy knowing he rests in peace.
There will be a viewing from 3-5 P.M. at Amory Funeral Home on Sunday, February 2nd. A service will take place at Zion United Methodist Church on Monday, February 3rd at 11:00 A.M. A burial will follow directly after at Peninsula Memorial Park.
