Carey Graves Crosier

Carey Graves Crosier, while surrounded by family and friends, peacefully drew his last breath on March 26, 2022 … we suspect to avoid yet another losing Bronco season.

Carey was born in El Paso, Texas in 1941 and lived in the Denver area his entire 80 brilliant years. From being a nationally ranked Gasser in the 1960’s, to being an iron worker, oiler and buffalo farmer, he was a true jack of all trades.

Carey’s greatest legacy though (besides his amazing family) was his crane business. Jiffy Lift and Carey’s Custom Crane were names that everyone in the business knew; so many monuments in town were so proudly hoisted into place by him personally or by one of his cranes. For nearly 40 years, Carey was a proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 9. When retiring just short of 4 decades, he was dubbed “still tough as nails” and all who knew him, often wondered how he survived the falls, the spills and the medical ailments that would have taken down any other normal man.

Carey was a man of few hobbies, but a true lover of 30’s-style Ford coupes and hotrod shows, Sunday 2pm home games, NASCAR, mint chocolate chip ice cream, the smell of lilac blooms in the spring and justly looked forward to golf season … televised LPGA women’s golf only, because men’s was too boring.

Lovingly known as “Fossil”, Carey will forever be remembered for his stubbornness, cynical attitude towards Democrats, not holding back his opinion and the uncanny knack of recalling the punch lines of the most off-color, inappropriate blonde jokes.

Genuine and giving to a fault, some of Carey’s greatest gifts were sharing valuable life lessons: have the nicest front lawn in the neighborhood, its best to cross-cut every other week; move two boards to the left if your hook shot isn’t producing a solid strike; while driving, keep your beer can in a black koozie between your legs. But most importantly, his mantra was genuine in reminding us all: give the shirt off your back to someone in need, and only surround yourself with those who will do the same.

Try as you might, you’ll never find another man whose heart was as pure and as golden.

Carey is survived by his loving family; daughter Kimberly ‘Pooh Bear’ Strand (Brian), son Christopher ‘Uncle Cookie’ Crosier, son Murrey ‘the Kid’ Kehrlein; grandchildren Ryan ‘the Boy’ VanEtten and Teagan ‘TeeGee’ VanEtten (undeniably his favorite); ex-wife Kay ‘Froggie’ Crosier and a host of cousins all whom were more like siblings.

He will be sorely missed by not only his doting family, but also by a gaggle of friends he deeply adored and treasured – most of whom he had not-so-PC nicknames for.

There will be no funeral nor viewing, as his beloved daughter refuses to honor his request to have him stuffed and placed standing in the corner of the room with a Miller Light in his hand.

Rather, cremation will take place and the family will divide the ashes. One urn will be buried alongside his father, Robert Lee Crosier, during a private ceremony at Linn Cemetery in Greeley Colorado, at the Crosier family plot. The other urn will be kept safe until his ashes can be used to zcreate a massive firework/mortal shell, large enough to blow the manhole cover lid off in the cul-de- sac’s 4 th of July festivities.

Following his wishes and honoring his lack of sentiment or religiosity, the family will hold a Celebration of Life, free of churchly theme.

Please don’t wear black, that would just piss him off.

Sunday, April 24 2022

Hilton Denver Inverness Hotel, lower level - Breckenridge Brewery

1pm – 4pm | during the Talladega race, his favorite track