Madison Heights High School
1965 Class Reunion

Brad Carner
  June 17, 1947 - April 15, 2008
 

      
Brad in 1965     Mascot        Brad in 2008

Brad in pirate costume at our
40 year class reunion in 2005.

From “The Aspen Times Weekly” – April 17, 2008

Gracy’s co-owner Brad Carner found dead
Friend baffled over his apparent suicide

Charles Agar
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
April 17, 2008

WOODY CREEK — A well-known local businessman has died of an apparent suicide.

Brad Carner, 60, who ran the Gracy’s of Aspen consignment store with his wife, Karen, was found dead Tuesday in the couple’s home at 2569 Lower River Road, according to a close friend.

Pitkin County sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday they were awaiting a coroner’s report to confirm the cause of death.

When they arrived on scene Tuesday, county deputies and paramedics from Basalt tried unsuccessfully to revive the man friends later identified as Carner.

Deputies reported there was a two-hour window since he was last seen and when his body was discovered.

Ron Ryan, director of investigations with the sheriff’s office, said that while there were apparent suicide notes at the scene, he could not comment on a motive. Ryan said he did not suspect foul play.

The case is closed, Ryan said.

The Woody Creek home was part of a larger property that belongs to Dan Soderberg, a longtime local and owner of a plumbing company, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Friends said the apparent suicide came without warning.

Carner took his life on his 15th wedding anniversary and just days before his daughter was scheduled to give birth to his first grandchild.

“We’re really upset at Brad,” said Carner’s friend, Brad Shaver. “We’re mad at him because he didn’t have to do this.”

Though under financial stress after the recent closure Gracy’s, Carner did not show any signs of depression or despair, Shaver said.

“It was totally out of the blue,” Shaver said. “Nobody knew what he was thinking or feeling.”

Notes left at the scene were a series of “little love notes” to his wife Karen and children, Shaver said.

Carner is survived by wife Karen, his mother Mary Hilda Carner of Anderson, Ind., and three children. The three children are from his previous marriage. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Kay.

Shaver remembered Carner as someone who had many close friends and who enjoyed life to the fullest, whether at a party or standing on a high altitude summit (Carner once climbed Mount Denali in Alaska).

Just Monday, in fact, Shaver and Carner rode motorcycles, played chess and drank whiskey together, Shaver said.

Carner had a recent squabble in small claims court over a well-loved motorcycle, Shaver said, and was stressed by debts, but he didn’t show any signs of depression in recent weeks.

Originally from Indiana, Carner had been a successful real estate broker in Denver in the 1980s and 1990s before moving to Aspen in 1999, Shaver said. Carner was involved in local real estate, mainly in pioneering fractional ownership in and around Aspen.

On July 4 of last year, Carner and a host of friends traveled to Alaska to celebrate his 60th birthday.

“He loved to celebrate things,” Shaver said. “He had a talent for extreme creativity and adventure.”

Carner was known to tote formal wear and a candelabra to celebrate high altitude summits, and just recently went as Batman to the Aspen Highlands closing day party, Shaver said.

“He was just a wonderful human being that everybody loved,” Shaver said.

There will be a service for Carner at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Crossroads Church in Aspen followed by a reception at 3 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge.

And Brad's Official Aspen Obituary...

Brad Carner left us on Tuesday afternoon, April 15, at his home in Woody Creek. He left his wife, lover and soul mate, Karen Peterson Carner. And he left his three children from his first wife Kay, who died several years ago, and his mom, Mary Hilda Carner of Anderson, Ind. He is preceded in death by his father, Herbert A. Carner.

Brad was born on June 17, 1947. He was an Eagle Scout, and graduated from Madison Heights High School in Anderson, Ind. in 1965. He attended and graduated from Culver Military Academy Summer School, and attended Indiana State University on a gymnastics scholarship before serving in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972. Brad then attended Indiana University before moving to Colorado.

Brad married Karen Peterson, his best friend, on April 15, 1993, and they lived in Denver for six years before moving to Aspen nine years ago. Together they owned Gracy’s of Aspen consignment store.

His life was about adventure, beginning with mountains (climbing, snowboarding, and backpacking). He was in incredible shape, always many steps ahead of his friends, whether on the mountain or leading us around the playa at Burning Man in the Nevada desert.

And then there was the 100-mile trek across the Mexican desert on four-wheelers in full road warrior costume, with 15 of his favorite friends. He loved the water (sailing), underwater (scuba), and underground (caving).

He was always a big event guy — he climbed Denali, he body surfed the Roaring Fork River and kayaked Alaska; he sailed the Caribbean. He had friends everywhere, especially in Aspen, Denver and Seattle.

He spent his 60th birthday in Alaska with 22 of his favorite friends, camping on glaciers and sea-kayaking around Prince William Sound.

If you didn’t know Brad, then you can only know him through his friends. Here are a few thoughts from them:

“He was one of the most unique people I have ever known; so full of life.”

“I’ve known few people in my life who had as great an appetite for fun as Brad did. His almost child-like delight in dressing up for occasions was infectious. He was a kind-natured, sweet and loving guy and his large circle of devoted friends is a testament to that. He is surely spearheading a party in heaven as we speak.” You may remember him as Batman at Aspen Highlands closing party last week, or as the Wizard.

An employee of Gracy’s said he enriched her life; that he made it a happy family at the store. He never failed to brighten up the day.

One friend said Brad will be remembered not just for love of life but for his lust for life: camping with Brad in a rainstorm without a tent, wearing only running shorts but keeping everyone’s spirits high; his appreciation for all things female and of all things fun; hikes in Aspen while discussing life and love. Also for his love for Karen and his children and his bragging about them; his thirst for adventure while always pushing the limits; the patience and kindness he showed in teaching a 7-year-old chess; fireworks amongst the glaciers under the midnight sun in Alaska; handstands in kilts without underwear! Brad was always making everyone laugh and bringing a smile to our faces. The list could be pages long.

Another friend said this: “Brad had a talent for ‘extreme creativity and adventure.’ It wasn’t enough to just summit a tough mountain; Brad brought along formal wear, gourmet food and candles.”

We will miss Brad forever.
Services will be held Saturday, April 19, at 1:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Church in Aspen at 726 West Francis St. for all who knew or loved Brad. At 3 p.m. we will have a celebration of his life at the Aspen Elks Club, with pictures, videos and stories about Brad and his life.

From the Anderson Herald Bulletin...

ASPEN, Colo. — Bradford Allen Carner, 60, of Aspen, Colo., died April 15, 2008, at his home.

Brad graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1965. He graduated from Culver Military Academy summer school and attended Indiana State University on a gymnastics scholarship. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972, after which he attended Indiana University before moving to Colorado. He was an Eagle Scout.

Brad and his wife, Karen, traveled the world. Few people have as great an appetite for fun as Brad did. He was an avid outdoorsman; he enjoyed mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, kyaking and snowboarding, he climbed Mount McKinley at one point in his life.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Peterson Carner of Aspen; his mother, Hilda Carner of Anderson; his sister, Kyle Ann Carner Hall (Dr. James A. Hall) of Logansport; daughter, Fearon Carner Perry (Michael of Denver, Colo.); grandson, Beckett Perry of Denver, Colo.; three nieces, Audrey and Lynly Hall of Chicago and Cassie Hall of Phoenix; a nephew, Courtney Hall of Indianapolis.

A memorial service is planned at 3 p.m. (Mountain time) Saturday at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

A note from Peggy and Jim Dixon...

Jim and I are Madison Heights high school classmates of Brad plus Jim is a distant cousin. We were shocked, stunned and immensely saddened to read of Brad's death. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Karen, his mother, his children, and his first grandchild whom is due in the next few days and whom he will never have the joy to meet. Brad was our school mascot (a pirate) in high school and everyone enjoyed his coming into the gym doing complete flips and wearing the pirate mascot costume. In 2005, Brad and Karen thrilled everyone at our 40 year class reunion when they entered doing handstands and cartwheels and wearing wonderful pirate costumes. It was a very special moment and all who attended that reunion will remember them both so fondly. We hope they will find comfort in all the wonderful memories or Brad and not his final act.

Peggy & Jim Dixon

And an insightful comment from an "old" friend and classmate who dated Brad in their freshman year...

"I am both saddened and disheartened by this event. Is this what it means that we were the "ME" generation? Everything had to revolve around us, our wants and perceived needs?
In reflection, it seems that Brad only saw himself as the consumate entertainer, even in HS. And he must have thought that people only  liked him for the "events" and if he couldn't live up to the "image" he would be a failure? He did live "large". Age and finances must have collided. Too sad for all who he left behind.

And after 40 years, he came back into all of our lives in a big way at the reunion. He touched a lot of lives over the decades."

Lizann Gribben Gibson