Peter Carney

Peter Kenneth Carney passed away July 11, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Isabel Carney, sister, Issy Carney, and brother-in-law, Jim Curtin. He is survived by his wife, Kate Carney, and brother, Ed (Kate) Carney; in-laws, Barbara and John Culley, Kelia Culley and Madison Peek, Jennifer Curtin, Josh and Emily Culley; cherished nieces and nephews, Megan Carney and Lucas Johnson, Matthew Carney, Finbar Curtin, Eli and Olivia Culley, Maeve Curtin and Jason Shepard, Becca Culley and McCade Bell; grand-nieces and nephew, Hazel and Nova Johnson, Everett Culley; and close friends Misa Acox, Sheila Meadows and Tony Binion. Pete was born on November 10, 1958, in Oceanside, New York, and grew up in Valley Stream and Westbury on Long Island where he attended Chaminade High School. His family moved to Brentwood, Tennessee, when he was a teenager and he graduated from Franklin High School. Pete attended the Berkeley School of Music and the University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Design. Pete worked as a part-time DJ, a finish carpenter, a writer, a print designer, an office manager, and held several administrative jobs at Vanderbilt University. He was a hard worker and dedicated himself to whatever job he had. But Pete’s life is best defined, not by the jobs he held, but by the things that he loved. Pete was a talented, passionate man who had a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms, thought that no matter how much you knew there was always more to learn, and believed that if something was worth doing it was worth doing right – even if he was the only one who understood his version of “right”! Pete loved music. He was an accomplished musician, playing piano and drums. He produced and scored several musical reviews while still in high school. Throughout his life, he loved discovering new and unusual bands. His nieces and nephews were always delighted to discover that Pete knew all about the obscure bands they liked. Pete was passionate about carpentry and woodworking. Out of all the jobs he had, he was most fulfilled by his time as a finish carpenter. He was an exceptional craftsman, crafting several of the pieces of furniture in his and Kate’s home. His latest woodworking passion was birdhouses. He loved spending hours in the garage, tinkering and fixing and creating items of great ingenuity. Pete loved gardening. He spent 30 years turning their barren new construction yard into a shady, tree-filled retreat. He enjoyed growing vegetables and giving them away. During the pandemic, he moved his vegetable garden to the front yard so he could pass along tomatoes and green beans to neighbors taking walks. Pete was passionate about cooking. He loved browsing international grocery store shelves and never met an exotic condiment he didn’t want to try out. He was always puttering around in the kitchen, experimenting with new dishes. And his tried and true dishes were family favorites at Thanksgiving and other gatherings. Pete combined his cooking skills with his desire to be of service to others by volunteering with the Nashville Food Project for several years, helping to bring food to those who did not have enough. Pete was a talented writer. He wrote for the Nashville Magazine in the 80’s and was particularly proud of his cover story, “Who’s on Second” which addressed the (then) new urban pioneer movement in Nashville. He also loved reading, poetry for its beauty and non-fiction for all the things he wanted to learn about. His bookshelves were lined with books about architecture, art, cooking, science, history and travel. He particularly loved books by John McPhee and Bill Bryson. Pete loved to travel. Through the years, he and Kate visited many places across the country. They enjoyed the year they spent in Washington, DC as newlyweds, discovered hidden gems in Manhattan, loved the beach and the Smokies, and made an art form out of exploring back roads off the beaten path. Pete was raised Catholic, but became less religious and more spiritual as he aged, feeling closer to Creation in forests and gardens than in church. His remaining connection to the catholic church was occasional retreats to Gethsemani Monastery to experience the Liturgy of the Hours and the silence that he found restful. Pete could make you laugh so hard you would cry. He had an off-beat sense of humor that kept his audience on its toes, never knowing what would come next. He kept his brother and sister laughing when they were kids, and his nieces and nephews have dozens of stories about all the crazy things their uncle Pete did that still make them laugh thinking about it. He was a master at home made greeting cards, created with clip art and wit and just enough wackiness to make them perfect. Pete adored his nieces and nephews. He was the kind of guy who would give or do anything for the people he loved and he would have given his life for his nieces and nephews. He was so proud of not only their accomplishments but the good and kind adults they all became. Even though he wasn’t their dad, he was passionate about being there for them in any way he could. Out of all the things that Pete loved, he loved his wife Kate the most. He absolutely adored her and spoke often of how lucky he was to get to spend his life with her. This December they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They made a wonderful life together, sharing their love of travel and exploration and a quirky sense of humor. The last few years of Pete’s life were burdened with health challenges that he met with a curmudgeonly courage that belied how much he was struggling. Despite all that he was going through, he tried very hard to still be a good husband, a good uncle, and a good person. Pete was laid to rest at Larkspur Conservation Burial Ground, beneath a beautiful tulip poplar and surrounded by native plants and butterflies, a fitting resting place for a man who loved nature and simplicity and who felt closest to the sacred in the wildness of the earth. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Nashville Food Project. A celebration of life is being planned for the spring. What to expect at a natural burial: Dress for an outdoor hike and wear appropriate shoes. Use the restroom before you arrive, there is no public toilet or running water. Carpool to Larkspur - parking is limited. Plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time. Family and friends will be welcomed at the trailhead by Larkspur staff and volunteers. The casket or body will be in place at the graveside prior to the arrival of family and friends. Family and friends will hike up the hill into the nature preserve for the burial ceremony. Words are shared and the casket or body is lowered into the grave by family and friends. With guidance the family and friends shovel soil into the grave until it is closed. Hike away from the graveside and return to your vehicle or explore the preserve. Leave no trash behind.

Peter Carney

November 10, 1958 - July 11, 2025