Hal Dee Carman

Hal Dee Carman, 74, of Salem, died on Nov 12, 2023.
He is survived by his wife, Kay, of Salem; daughter Mary (Marc Rivers), also of Salem; brother David
Carman (Helen Ruth) of Eugene; brother Tom Carman (Bev) of La Grande; and five nephews, Brad,
Brent, Bryce, Jeff, and Tony. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Hal appreciated the beauties of God’s creations, especially mountains and trees, and throughout his
life enjoyed both hiking and mountain climbing. He was most at peace in nature, in the hills, or along
a lake or creek. Favorites were the trails near Anthony Lakes and Catherine Creek where he walked
just last month. On the morning of his death, he strolled through Straub Nature Park near his home in
Salem, where he took a walk four mornings a week, and noted that the fall color was still beautiful.
He was a quiet, gentle man with a good heart. He loved animals and his spirit was lifted by a beautiful
sunrise. As he learned as a Boy Scout, he was a man always prepared.
Hal was born Oct 11, 1949, in La Grande, Oregon, the third son of Harold and Bea Carman. He
married Kay Whittig of Union on Jan 20, 1973, in La Grande.
He attended school in La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School in 1967. He served in the
U.S. Army, and upon discharge attended Eastern Oregon College, graduating in 1974.
While working at Hand Ford in 1977 as body shop manager, Hal had the opportunity to mentor a
practicum student from the auto body program at Blue Mountain Community College. At the end of
the quarter, the student invited him to tour the school’s shop and meet the instructor. Kay remembers
him coming home from Pendleton and saying, “I could do that.” That sent him off to OSU in Corvallis
for a year-and-a-half where he earned a teaching certificate in Trade and Industrial Education. Hal
taught auto collision repair for three years at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California and
then returned to Oregon to be nearer family. He taught at high schools in Corvallis and Sweet Home
and then in 1987 moved back into a two-year college, Portland Community College, where he taught
in the Auto Collision Repair Department until he retired in 2010.
Hal and Kay adopted their daughter, Mary, from Seoul, South Korea, in May of 1984. She was their
only child, beloved, and he supported her through her schooling and career. Her favorite memory of
him is how his eyes would crinkle at the corners and light up as he began to laugh.
A private family graveside service was held at Grandview Cemetery where Hal was interred with
military honors.
To plant a tree in memory of Hal Carman, please visit the Arbor Day Foundation at
https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative-trees-in-memory