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Portrait of Gerald Ray Carnley
VETERAN

Gerald Ray Carnley

December 10, 1936 – November 25, 2023
Lived 86 years
Sweetwater · Opp, Alabama
In service to country

Thank you for your service

Gerald served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.

Life story

Mr. Gerald Ray Carnley, age 86, of Opp, Alabama passed away Saturday, November 25, 2023 at his home.

Gerald was born in 1936 to his late parents, Clara Vermelle Wise Carnley & Dewey Leonard Carnley. Gerald served his country in the U.S. Air Force, worked as a diesel mechanic for Burlington Railroad, farmed his land, became a truck driver, was a member of the NRA, started G.R. Wood Creations, and served the church as a Sunday school teacher and Deacon. He wore many hats during his lifetime, but his favorite was being with his family.

Mr. Carnley is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley Bade Carnley; son, Mark Carnley & wife, Melissa; daughters, Cindy Goff & husband, Dennis, Cherri Goff & husband, Mike, and Cathy Dewrell Martin & husband, Ricky; brother, Ronnie Carnley; sister, Christine Clark; grandchildren, Ben Goff & Alicia, Wendy Rivers & Frank, Justin Goff & Jakki, Ashley DeShazo & Drew, Josh Carnley & Kaylinn, Ashlyn Barrett & Miles, Cristy Wise & Wesley, and Jarrod Dewrell; and great-grandchildren, Landon, Andrew, Peyton, Conner, Emily, Cali, Austin, Will and Riley. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, LaDon Dewrell.

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Lifetime

The world Gerald knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1936
Born December 10
1939
Gerald was 3 when "The Wizard of Oz" opened in theaters
1945
Gerald was 9 when the war in Europe ended on V-E Day
1958
Gerald was 22 when the Hula Hoop craze swept the country
1962
Gerald was 26 when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
1971
Gerald was 35 when Walt Disney World opened in Florida
1989
Gerald was 53 when "The Simpsons" debuted as a series
1998
Gerald was 62 when Google was founded
2005
Gerald was 69 when the first video was posted to YouTube
2016
Gerald was 80 when Pokemon Go sent millions outdoors hunting creatures
2021
Gerald was 85 when the James Webb Space Telescope was launched
2023
Passed away November 25, age 86
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