Obituary of Cary C Bermudez II

Cary was born on August 9, 1946 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was the fifth of seven children born to Genevieve Dolores Allen. He was baptized at Sacred Heart Church in Klamath Falls on March 14, 1947. Cary was named for his father, Claro Cary Bermudez, who retired from the US Navy with 30 years of service. His father was a civil engineer, moving with the family from job to job. He and his brothers were altar boys at St. Teresa, St Luke & St. James Cathedral in Medrona & Seattle area. Cary completed High School in 1964. Not long after this his family left the Seattle area and relocated to Salinas California. It was there in the Salinas California the he enlisted in the US Marine Corp on 11/21/1967. Cary reached the rank of Sgt E-5 in less than 2 years. While serving in Vietnam from 1967 through 1969 he received the Gallantry Cross with Palm and Gold Frame for “heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force.” On September 17, 1970, he entered into Active Reserve. On November 20, 1973 was Honorable discharged while station @ the San Diego base in California. He attended the University of Washington and received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering. On one occasion when Felicia went to visit Cary @ his home in Bremerton Washington, he ask that she bring some of her reading books. He had entered into the Big Brother's Program & was working with a young child who was having trouble with reading. Cary's need to help others was already emerging within him. It also during this time his love of Photography continued to be developed and sharpened. There was many photos that he had taken of the coast & shoreline, of family and friends, that proved his innate ability to capture the beauty that surrounds us all. He was gifted in his silent reflections of the moment and his ability to capture those images. Cary worked in Alaska for several seasons maintaining the Refrigeration units for the Fishing boats in Tojiak and formed close friends where ever he worked. After settling back in Washington he went to work for Rainier School for the Developmentally Disabled, Buckley, Washington. He had a successful career of 23 years of employment as the Plant 3 Manager. He and his staff had responsibility for 900,000 square feet of residential and classroom and shop areas for the comfort of the 400 residents and staff. Even with the large position he had, he was respectful and felt he was just doing his job. He developed many relationships with the residents and the staff. The residents knew him by name and enjoyed his easy going personality. He had developed an extended second family with the residents and staff. Cary served the people at Buckley and was involved in the larger community where he lived. Cary was a member of VFW Post 0110, the American Legion and Foreign Affairs. Cary was also a member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFSCME and the Refrigeration Service Engineering Society. Cary was close to his sisters and brothers. He enjoyed being with his family. He was also a Great Uncle to numerous children. There were many family gatherings. In the Filipino style, he enjoyed cooking for family and friends, whether at his family homes or their reunions. He enjoyed music and playing the keyboard. He often remembered the beautiful sounds of the pipe organ at St. James Church. Two of his favorite songs that he marked and played were “Unchained Melody” and “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy.” Cary practiced and talked about having an “openness of heart” and showing kindness and respect for one another. Above all, our “Casey” was an intelligent, loving and giving man with a gentle and kind spirit. He is truly loved and will be missed. When someone he knew was in need, Cary was there to help them and often invited them to his home for a meal and a place to sleep. Eight years ago, Cary was diagnosed with colon cancer. He went through chemotherapy. He recovered and returned to work. In 2005, cancer returned and once again he underwent radiation and chemotherapy. He went back to work and began thinking about retiring and being able to visit family connections in The Philippines. In January of this year, he was injured in an auto accident. In the x-rays, they discovered that cancer was in his bones. In February, he was having some extreme pains and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he had more chemotherapy. Later he was admitted at St. Clare Hospital for special treatment and then transferred to Franciscan Hospice House in University Place. His sister and family members were with him every hour he was there. His life came to a peaceful and quiet closing early in the morning of Sunday, February 28, 2010. Cary was preceded by his father Claro, his mother Genevieve, his sister Sandra, brothers’ Philip, Michael and Daniel. He is survived by his older brother Good Horse Nation and younger sister Felicia Parker and many nieces and nephews, friends, associates, and neighbors.