William Gibson Carey III
William Gibson Carey III, 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 6, 2024, in Waitsfield, Vermont. Born on February 27, 1935, in Greenwich, Connecticut, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who cherished his family above all else.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Kate (Kip) P. Carey; his two sons, Gib (Sarah) and Andrew (Liza); his six grandchildren: Christopher (Katie), Eliza, Madeline, Lindsay, and Hadley; and his great-granddaughter, Eloise.
He was a graduate of The Kent School and Union College. While at Union, he met Kip, and together they built a life of adventure, love, and enduring family traditions. His connection to Vermont began when college friends introduced him to the Mad River Valley. In 1962 he and Kip with their dear friends Carl and Sue Maynard transformed a humble sugar house on Bragg Hill into a family treasure —a home central to his family to this day.
Professionally, Bill had a rich and varied career. After excelling in sales and marketing at Airco in its welding products division, he along with Kip modernized and enhanced his family’s ranch business in Throckmorton, Texas. In 1990, he co-founded Newport Hospitality Group, a hotel management company where he left a legacy of employee-focused leadership. Through each endeavor, Bill cultivated a culture of collaboration, innovation, and care.
A lifelong tinkerer and adventurer, Bill rebuilt his first car at age 15 and never stopped taking things apart to learn and improve them. From sailing Dancer on Long Island Sound to skiing the trails of Mad River Glen and Alta, maintaining his cars and planes, and restoring a 1958 mahogany boat named Gerpatcyn, he embraced the joy of discovery and shared it with those around him. He was happiest outdoors — fishing the waters of Nantucket, skiing with his grandchildren, and piloting his plane across the country.
Bill will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was a generous guide, a wise mentor, and a loving family man who inspired and supported countless friends and family members.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on a future date in Waitsfield, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stark Mountain Foundation, supporting the preservation of Mad River Glen’s unique mountain experience, at www.starkmountain.org or by mail to P.O. Box 1221, Waitsfield, VT 05673.
