Donald R Carley

Donald Robert Carley, age 67, of Pensacola, FL, formerly of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2024, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. Don was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The youngest of eight children, he grew up working alongside his siblings and parents on their family strawberry and potato farm.

Don loved spending time with his daughter, Lisa Marie Carley Walker, and his grandchildren, Ava June and Lucy Belle Walker. He was a hardworking and selfless father, raising his beautiful daughter as a single dad for many years while balancing work and home life.

Don attended Sault schools, graduating from Sault High in 1976, and from Lake Superior State University with a degree in Construction Management. He worked at the Sault Evening News as a photographer in the early 1980s. Don retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sergeant after nearly 22 years in electronic intelligence and cryptology, having been stationed at many different duty stations, including Germany, Ohio, Italy, Maryland, South Korea, and Florida. Following his military retirement, Don was employed at Loomis Armored Services as an armed driver/guard and the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier.

Don is survived by his seven siblings — four brothers: Gary Carley, Terry (Marcia) Carley, Dean (Patsy) Carley, and William (Ellen) Carley; and three sisters: Lana (Bruce) Tamborini, JoAnn Carley, and Mary (Steve) Osterhout. He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Steven Carley, David Carley, Robert Butler, James Butler, Natalie (Jason) Tremblay, Alex (Kerry) Carley, Paul (Xiaomin) Carley, Jessica (Greg) May, Shane (Monique) Carley, Madeline Carley, Carley Jones, and Sara (Zack) VanGinhoven. Don has many great nieces/nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends, all of whom knew him by his kind heart and gentle loving spirit. Elmer and Isabel Carley, his parents, predeceased him.

Don took great pride in his home, creating a warm and welcoming environment that highlighted his favorite mementos, keepsakes, and photos. He worked tirelessly to create a park-like oasis in his yard. He designed and built a beautiful Florida room addition where he and family could enjoy the yard while staying out of the Florida heat. He had a cabin on Sugar Island, Michigan, and loved kayaking and spending time on the lake in the summers. He always was thinking of others and what he could do for them. Most of all, he loved his family and friends, and they loved him.

Family is invited to gather for a private visitation on Friday, June 28, 2024 beginning from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. Public visitation will proceed from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM, with funeral service from 8:30 AM to 9:15 AM. A funeral procession will follow to Barrancas National Cemetery at the Pensacola Naval Air Station for a full military honors committal service from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM. Family and friends are invited to a remembrance luncheon in Don’s honor immediately following the committal service, back at Oak Lawn Funeral Home.