Mike Carthey
Michael W. Carthey came to The Abbey as a clinician in 2008, following a distinguished, 32-year career in social services. As with all of his endeavors, Mike committed himself fully to the care and support of his Abbey clients.
Mike’s particular focus was on the connection between spirituality and personal fulfillment — the concept that a relationship with one’s higher power can bring a person strength and peace. He connected deeply with his Abbey clients, and he spent his “days off” working tirelessly on enhancing his own spiritual path, as a means for helping to guide others. Among his colleagues, Mike was blessed to share a common mission to help others with his devoted wife, Jo Carthey — another dedicated counselor at The Abbey.
At the time of his passing, Mike was among the longest tenured staff members of The Abbey; he worked faithfully until illness prevented him from doing so.
In a lasting tribute to Mike’s own character and dedication, he asked his friends and loved ones to honor him — not with flowers, but — with donations to The Abbey Foundation, an institution which helped to start and to which he dedicated himself wholly. Like the climactic scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in addition to his own family members, dozens of his friends, former clients, and co-workers gave generously to honor this compassionate soul — helping to perpetuate his mission for all time… Those donations were accompanied by an equal number of thoughtful sentiments, including:
After attending Mike’s memorial service, I realized how important his work was to him. His work didn’t seem like “work” and his co-workers were more like “family.” My cousin Mike was like a brother to me, and I hope his memory lives on in the work he started. Thank you for all you do every day!
Mike was truly a great person!
It makes me happy that the memorial will be used to help people who suffer from addiction, a cause so close to Michael’s heart.
We extend our condolences to his friends at The Abbey. We know he valued his time there and the relationships he had with his friends and coworkers there.
Mike helped me so much and I was paid to hang out with him!! 🙂 And, you know, I was never one for pet names, but when he called me “Kiddo,” it always made me feel a sense of home. I miss him.
Excluding those donors who wished to remain anonymous, a partial list of those who gave generously to honor Mike includes:
- Susan
- Patricia
- James
- Darold and Harriet
- Dick and Julie
- Kathy
- Tina
- Beverly
- Denny
- Suzanne
- Michael and Lisa
- Rebecca
- Scott and Karen
- Norma
- Sally
- Frank and Diane
- Brad and Marcia
- Ruth
- Jeffrey and Judy
- Cheryl
- Gerald and Kristin
- Brett and Leigh Ann
- Dale and Tammy
- Jim and Pam
- Carrie
- Kristin
- Robert
- Pat
- Mike and Carole
- Jim and Laurie
- Mark and Sue
- Brad and Patti
- John
- Joe, Barb, and Eryn
- Mike and Ann
- Daniel
- Tom and Katie
- Peg
- Greg
- Cherrie
- Missy
- Tom and Cathy
- Marvin and Dorothy
- Dennis and Joan
- Joe and Julie
- Jeff and Beth
- Harry and Virginia
- Dept of Human Services (5th Floor)
- Michelle
- Leonard
- Marcia
- Veronica
- Lori
- Larry
- Alyssa and Charles
- Catherine and Paul