James "Jim" Melvin Carey

James Melvin “Jim” Carey, DVM, 81, of Shipshewana, Indiana, met his Savior face-to-face on August 27, 2022.

Jim was born in Bureau County, IL, April 30,1941, to Wilbur Hugh “Jimmie” and Lenore Ioder Carey. Jim and his sister, Wilma “Jean,” grew up in rural Ohio, IL.

Jim married Frances “Fran” Richards (also from Ohio, IL) on September 5, 1965. Together, they had two children, Heather Colleen, and Michael James (wife, Patricia), along with eight grandchildren: Madeline and Macklann (Heather); and Eden, James Izaak, Levi, Abigail, Lydia and Rachel (Michael).

Jim graduated from Iowa State University in 1966 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He established Carey’s Pet Hospital in Belleville (Swansea), IL in 1969, where he faithfully served his community until retiring in 2000. Jim and Fran relocated to Highland, IL in 2002, and then to Shipshewana, IN, in 2013.

Fran and Jim enjoyed bicycling together. They rode locally and explored off-road trails in different states. They also enjoyed attending seminars at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove and vacationing in Sanibel, FL.

Jim is survived by his wife, Fran, their two children and eight grandchildren.

Jim and Fran have been members of Gracepoint Baptist Church, Sturgis, Michigan.

Jim will be remembered for loving His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; being a faithful and loving husband, father, and grandfather; and showing compassion for his clients and patients.

Jim’s family expresses their heart-felt appreciation to the entire staff at Lutheran Life Villages, Kendallville, IN, for the excellent and compassionate care they provided Jim since June 2020. The staff of Diamond Street, the memory care wing at Lutheran Life Villages, and Diamond Street Coordinator, Roger Harshman, deserve special recognition for the exceptional care they provided for Jim. They also thank Parkview Hospice for their professional and compassionate care.

A private family burial will take place at Shore cemetery in Shipshewana, IN.

To view a memorial video, please visit https://careymemorial.info

Fran is grateful to her friend, Alison, for producing this video.

Yeager Funeral Home, Ligonier, IN is handling arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shred with the family online at www.yeagerfuneralhome.com .

“When I stand before the throne,

Dressed in beauty not my own,

When I see Thee as Thou art,

Love Thee with unsinning heart,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know —

Not till then — how much I owe.”

—  Robert Murray M'Cheyne