Gary Vernon Carman

November 20, 1937 - February 9, 2020

Gary Vernon Carman went to be with his Lord Sunday, February 9, 2020 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was born November 20, 1937 in Sheffield, Iowa, to Gerald V. and Alta Marie Carman. Gary spent his growing up years in various towns in Iowa, including Ottumwa, Independence and Waverly. He married Karen Lyons Carman on June 4, 1959 in Waverly, Iowa. He received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. Early in his career he was employed as a teacher at Elk Run/East Waterloo Township, Waverly Junior High and Cedar Falls Holmes Junior High. He was media specialist for the Cedar Falls school system. In 1975, he took a position at Walnut Ridge Baptist Academy in Waterloo, Iowa where he remained in various capacities. In 1983, he accepted the school administrator position at Dubuque Christian Academy and later took the position of assistant pastor at Dubuque Bible Church. In 1986, Gary and his wife relocated to Prescott, AZ, where he accepted the position of school administrator at Christian Academy of Prescott where he remained for 18 years. Following his “retirement” in 2004, he became active in Titus Ministries and served at Flagstaff Evangelical Free Church. He was also interim pastor at First Baptist Church/Solid Rock Christian Fellowship in Prescott and at Bethel Baptist Church, Prescott Valley. In 2007, he accepted the position of pastor to senior adults until his full retirement in June 2019. Gary and Karen enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii with their daughter and son-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Karen, of 60+ years; son, Tim (Sandra) of Wyaconda, MO; daughter, Tammi (Rick) Smith of Chino Valley, AZ; granddaughter, Megan (Mike) Burns of Ames, IA, grandson Brett (fiancée Jennifer Dozier) of Cedar Rapids, IA. Additionally, he had many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Carman; his mother, Alta Carman; his sister, Mary Heilskov and his brother, Jim Carman. Gary’s Celebration of Life will be Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Solid Rock Christian Fellowship, 148 S. Marina, Prescott, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Solid Rock Christian Fellowship.