Brenda Carey

Brenda Kay Carey (née Therrien), a woman of remarkable intelligence, sharp wit, and fierce devotion to her family, passed away at home on February 18, 2026, following a brief illness. She was 53 years old.

Brenda was born in the early Monday morning hours of December 4, 1972, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Richard Therrien and Vickie Spek (née Riley, formerly Therrien). After spending her early years in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Louisville, Kentucky, she moved to Riverside, California, at age seven.

At age eight, Brenda’s world expanded when her mother married Barrett Spek. Though raised as an only child, she instantly gained a bustling family and four siblings: Christopher, Michael (Sharon), Elizabeth (Bill) Dunston, and Benjamin (Sabrina). A year later, the family was completed with the birth of her sister, Amelinda (Benjamin) Porter. Brenda lovingly referred to Barrett as "Dad" for the rest of her life, a bond that was so strong that she chose her final resting place to be with him.

Brenda grew up in Alta Loma, California, surrounded by a large circle of cousins and lifelong friends. She was a proud 1990 graduate of Pomona Catholic High School and attended California State University, Fullerton. Professionally, Brenda spent many years as a highly capable Dental Office Business Manager, where her organizational skills and sharp memory were legendary.

Brenda met the love of her life, Scott Carey, when they were just 13 years old. The pair were instantly smitten, a childhood romance that blossomed into a lifelong partnership. They married in June 2007 and eventually settled in Glendale, Arizona.

Brenda was a force of nature: intelligent, sharp-witted, and possessed a memory so legendary it was both a blessing and a warning.  She had a steel-trap mind that seemed to remember everything (even the things you wished she’d forget) and could troubleshoot any electronic device with ease! Brenda was also the "human Google" of the family. Long before MapQuest or GPS, Brenda was the person you called for directions!

Brenda was a woman of many joys. She was her children’s biggest fan, spending countless hours at the field cheering on son Brandon and daughter Savannah during their competitive baseball years. She was an avid reader of James Patterson and never missed an episode of Criminal Minds to see her "boyfriend," Shemar Moore. She loved traveling across the U.S., the Bahamas, and Europe. She cherished her dogs, Woody and Bella, and is now reunited with her beloved Giada. Brenda is survived by her loving husband, Scott; her precious children, Brandon (17) and Savannah (16); her mother, Vickie; her father, Richard, her mother-in-law, Beverly; her five siblings; and a vast network of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Barrett; her paternal grandparents, Roland and Yvette Therrien; her maternal grandparents, David and Peggy Riley; and her father-in-law, Ralph Carey.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM in Melstone, Montana. Brenda will be laid to rest at the feet of her dad, a final tribute to the man whose feet she spent so many nights rubbing during her life.

Pallbearers will be Scott Carey, Brandon Carey, Benjamin Porter, Quinlan Rothey, and Finnegan Porter.

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean, “I miss you, until we meet again."