Carey Kelley Petterson

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce that Carey, beloved son, brother, and friend, passed away of natural causes on July 26th, 2023.

Carey Kelley Petterson was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1980. The second of three children, he was quiet, reflective, thoughtful, and impassioned even from an early age.

Carey went to Lakeshore Elementary, AP Giannini Middle School, and graduated from Archbishop Riordan High School in 1999. He then attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, finding his home amongst the towering redwoods and peaceful beaches.

At Humboldt, Carey channeled his creativity and energy into music and discovered his talents in horticulture. He fostered a deep love of nature, finding joy and solace in hiking through the forest, tending to his plants, and sharing his knowledge with others. He traveled with his family throughout the western United States, England, Wales, Spain, Mexico, and Thailand and also enjoyed several trips to Canada with his friends. He often camped in the Humboldt redwoods and adored animals, frequently volunteering to walk dogs and watch his friend's pets.

Anyone who met Carey saw that he had a good heart and was strongly guided by his morals, taking on the world's injustices as if they were his own. A natural caregiver and immensely loyal, he was always available to help those who needed him, often putting the needs of others before his own.

He is survived by his parents John and Loretta and sisters Alyssa and Maureen. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Save the Redwoods League https://secure.savetheredwoods.org/a/honor or the Redwood Parks Conservancy https://www.redwoodparksconservancy.org/donate