Robert M.D.

Robert Franklin Cary, M.D., passed away quietly on Tuesday morning September 23, 2014 at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, Utah, near his home of 18 years in Kayenta, Ivins, Utah. He was 79 years old and died from complications of Alzheimer's disease. "Angels were in attendance".

Born on December 8, 1934, in Macon, Georgia, to Robert Franklin Cary II and Roselyn Stever Cary, Robert graduated with honors from Miller Lanier High School in 1952. He was a prolific learner and a studious youth, a chess master, an accomplished musician, a member of the school band and a chemistry honors major.

Upon graduation, Robert joined the Army and left Macon in 1952. After a four-year tour, which included a posting in Germany, Robert returned to the U.S., joined the Army Reserve and attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, earning him pre-med scholarships, Robert completed 3 years of premed at the University with science and chemistry honor society rankings, played the clarinet in the University of Georgia Band and worked nightly playing the bass guitar to cover school expenses.

During his senior year in 1958, Robert was recruited by the Medical School of the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, and awarded a prestigious scholarship. He continued to play in dance bands on weekends and at night earned money as a Lab Technician doing blood chemistry analysis for the University Hospital. Robert graduated from medical school in 1962 and started a general rotating internship at Maricopa County Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1963, he began his residency in general and community Psychiatry at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Throughout this period, Robert remained in the Army Reserve until 1965.

In 1966, he became Board Certified in Psychiatry in the states of Florida, Georgia and California. In 1966, Robert established a private practice in Greenbrae, Marin County, CA., practicing general, forensic and community psychiatry. He was a member of the Marin Medical Society, the Marin Psychiatric Society, the California and American Medical Associations; served as a consultant with the Marin County court system; worked as a staff psychiatrist at San Quentin State Prison; and was a clinical instructor at the University of California Medical School from 1966-1971.

Robert married his wife, Susan, a native Californian, in 1970, and in 1971, he joined the U.S. Navy as a Lt. Commander. They left Marin County and moved to Oakland where Robert worked closely with returning Vietnam War Marines and Naval personnel, facing some of his most challenging and rewarding professional work serving young war amputees struggling to recover their lives.

Robert was transferred to the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy, for 4 years. During this time, he and his wife traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa. They also joined the Naval flying club and became private pilots.

Returning stateside, duty stations included Newport, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and San Diego, California. Robert and Susan continued to travel abroad, pursued sailing and flying, continuing education opportunities and community volunteer projects. They also played Tournament Bridge, becoming life masters.

In 1978, Robert transferred to the Public Health Service, serving the Indian Health Service at Rapid City, South Dakota and was also a clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota Medical School. Captain Cary was transferred to the Coast Guard Branch of the Public Health Service in 1980 and appointed head of the Coast Guard Academy Hospital in New London, Connecticut. While in New England, he attended Harvard Medical School to gain more medical knowledge in Psychiatry and Neurology. Robert retired from the Coast Guard in 1990 and took a forensic psychiatry position with Western State Hospital in Tacoma, Washington.

Robert and his wife remained in Bellevue, Washington, until 1998 when they retired to Kayenta, Ivins, Utah. During retirement they continued to enjoy life and were active with many of their hobbies and interests. Robert also developed a new hobby in retirement of bread making which was greatly appreciated by family and friends..

The family wishes to offer special thanks to Gerald Hagen, M.D. for supporting and counseling the family during the early years of Robert's Alzheimer's; the staff of the Southern Utah Veteran's Home for taking such good, compassionate care of Robert; and the nurses from Journey of Hope Hospice who attend Robert during his final weeks and moments on this earth.

Robert is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan, his step-son Bryan, daughter-in-law, Laura, and three grandsons: Andrew, Matthew and Patrick. Private Family Services were held by McMillian Mortuary and a contribution may be made in Robert's name to Journey of Hope Hospice, 475 East Tabernacle, Saint George, Utah.

Robert's epitaph is: "A Life Well Lived".