Carey Appling

On September 2, 2021, Carey Carlton Appling, 87, of Forest City, passed away surrounded by his loving family at Spartanburg Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Carey was born August 11, 1934 in Orange Grove, Texas.  After graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne serving in the Korean War as a trained paratrooper.

After serving his country in the military, Carey attended welding school in Oklahoma.  He worked as a pipeline welder in many parts of the country and served as Superintendent for Distribution Construction.  In 1970, he started working for Bradford Brothers as welder foreman; he also worked for Colonial Pipeline and Plantation Pipeline, opening a new office in Richmond, Virginia. In 1984, Carey founded Appling Boring Company, Inc.

Carey Appling was a dedicated career man, but he was also a loving husband, father, uncle, brother, grandfather, boss and friend.  He loved NASCAR, football and his shop dog, Digger.

Carey is preceded in death by his parents Marvin Appling and Francis Harrod Appling, brothers Donald and Marvin of Corpus Christi, Texas and grandson Benjamin Carlton Appling.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Kay, of the home, brother Tommy Appling (Cheryl) of Tilden, Texas, nephew Donnie Appling (Reyes) of Corpus Christi, Texas, son Kenneth Appling (Candise) of Rutherfordton, daughters Adonna West (Terry) and Gina Appling (Ricky Humphries) of Forest City, Tracy Appling (Kevin Wong) of Raleigh, and stepdaughter Rhonda Hill (Brad) of Forest City.  Grandchildren Justin Appling, Jessica Appling, Adonna Claire Biel, Alicia Biel, Dylan West, Jenna West and Brooklyn Hill.  Great grandchildren Malachi Appling, Jocelyn Appling and Kendrick Appling.

A graveside service with military honors will be held Tuesday, September 7th, 6:30pm at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery on Chase High Road.  Harrelson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Carey Carlton Appling Chase High Football Scholarship P.O. Box 25 Caroleen, NC 28019.