LOPEZ ISLAND — The Rev. Joseph Carney, a former pastor of St. Charles Church in Poulsbo and early member of the North Kitsap Fishline board of directors, passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side on Aug. 19.

He was 84.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for Sept. 6, 11:30 a.m., at Grace Episcopal Church on Lopez Island, with a luncheon reception following in the parish hall.  A memorial service will be held at St. Charles on Little Valley Road at a later date.

Carney was born on Dec. 23, 1929 in Vancouver, B.C. and attended various schools before graduating from Vancouver College Prep School in 1948. He then pursued his long-time desire to enter the priesthood by enrolling in the Roman Catholic Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, B.C. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 and a degree in theology in 1957. He was ordained on April 6, 1957.

He served in various Vancouver area parishes as assistant priest, and as editor of the Diocesan newspaper of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. He was appointed to The Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps in 1963 with the rank of second lieutenant and served in that capacity until 1967.

After much soul searching, he knew that he wanted marriage to be part of his life and in November 1965 he married Tanya Dournovo. The marriage was followed by a brief stay at Huron College, University of Western Ontario, and Carney was received into the Anglican Communion in December 1966.

In October 1967, the Carneys and  their infant son, Rex, emigrated to the United States.  Carney entered the U.S. Episcopal Church through the Diocese of Olympia and was assigned to St. Barnabas on Bainbridge Island and its satellite mission churches in Poulsbo and Port Gamble.

Over the next several years, he oversaw the independence of the Poulsbo and Port Gamble congregations, the building of a church and parish hall in Poulsbo, and considerable congregational growth. He was also involved in the community in many ways.

He served on the Board of Fishline when it was housed at St. Charles Church and was a charter member of the North Kitsap Counseling Cluster, which was designed to provide help for people regardless of denomination or creed.

He and St. Charles helped establish the North Kitsap School for Handicapped Children in 1970 and housed this program for several years. He was a founding member of the Kitsap County Council on Alcoholism and served on the board for several years. His parish sponsored immigrant families from Vietnam and Poland until they were settled in their new American home.

Carney served twice as president of the North Kitsap Ministerial Association.

“He believed strongly in bringing the churches together to serve the needs of the community,” his wife, Tanya, wrote. “Two of his most rewarding forms of ministry were serving as chaplain to the Poulsbo Fire Department and to Hospice of Kitsap County, which he continued until moving to the San Juans in 1999.”

He resigned as rector of St. Charles parish in 1989 and became vicar of St. Bede’s Mission, Port Orchard, where he served until his retirement in 1995.

He and his family enjoyed sailing the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands for many years, so he was happy to come out of retirement in 1997 to serve as part-time vicar of Grace Church on Lopez Island. He retired for the second time in 1999 when he and Tanya decided to make Lopez Island their permanent home.

The Carneys were active members of the Poulsbo Yacht Club for many years. He was also an avid crab fisherman and would be one of the first ones to put out a pot when the season opened, according to his wife. He also had a private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying his Ercoupe.

“Joe was loved by everyone who knew him for his ready smile, his sense of humor, and the joy and kindness he exuded,” his wife wrote. “He will be greatly missed by his family, his former parishioners, and all his friends.”

He is survived by his wife; sons, Rex (Jennifer) and Brent; grandchildren, Brennan, Casey, Chloe and Dillon; sister-in-law, Verlie Carney; brother-in-law, Martin Dournovo (Virginia); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Nora Carney; and brothers, Robert and Fred.