Frank Carey; Engineer Helped Build B-17S, Lay Ocean Cable

Frank Carey, who helped Boeing build its B-17s and AT&T lay its trans-Atlantic cable, was a big man suited by temperament and training to solving big problems.

The Montana-born Mr. Carey tweaked the gearboxes that revolutionized hydroplane racing for the Slo-Mo-Shun boats in the 1950s.

He devised shock tests for the U.S. spy ship Glomar Explorer, which recovered nuclear warheads from a sunken Soviet submarine in 1974.

And as a University of Washington student in the 1930s, he helped cut Forest Service roads and build West Seattle Golf Course.

But the born-on-St.-Patrick's-Day Irishman, who died Nov. 11 at age 82, also could think small: Every day he had to work the New York Times crossword puzzle - in ink.

And he used his big heart: Although he "didn't tolerate fools," said his niece Ann Hurst of San Jose, he loved showing visitors his "inside" view of Seattle, doted on squirrels and dogs, and was devoted to family members.

He was a lifelong student, said his son Peter Carey of Seattle.

When his father was 6 or 7, said Peter Carey, "Dad told the teacher he didn't have to study because his father was on the school board. But when his father got home, he told Dad not only did he have to study, he had to do better than anyone else. He had been studying and learning since."

Mr. Carey came west with his family in 1926 and finished his formal schooling at Roosevelt High School and the UW.

Before and during World War II, he worked as chief tooling engineer for Boeing. It was his idea to design the construction manual for the B-17 as a "comic book" because those building the bomber had no technical experience, said his son.

Mr. Carey worked for Western Gear - which custom-built gearboxes for hydroplanes, the Space Needle and cable-laying ships - from 1950 to 1977. He often did field work to monitor the equipment.

"He once found himself taking a cruise from New York to Buenos Aires on six hours' notice," said his son.

Royal Hawley, a former Western Gear executive, said Mr. Carey "fancied himself a salesman on these trips; he liked to entertain our customers."

In the 1980s, Mr. Carey worked as a consultant for National Steel Shipbuilding Co. in San Diego.

Hydroplane racer Scott Pierce credited Mr. Carey with giving him his start, letting Pierce use his home and even his credit cards until his boats started winning.

"He was the smartest guy I ever knew," Pierce said."He could always figure out solutions to problems with machinery."

Pierce said Mr. Carey was a computer whiz who'd put many games into his computer and played them all.

Other survivors include Mr. Carey's sister, Alice Carey Hurst of Oklahoma City, and numerous nieces, nephews and their families. His wife, Marion Starr Carey, died in May, and another son, Patrick, died in 1971.

Services have been held. Remembrances may be sent to the Scholarship Fund of the Drama Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.