Patrick Charles Carrick

August 23, 1949 – June 10, 2024

Bakersfield – Patrick Charles Carrick was the eldest son born to Harry Hall Carrick Jr. and Beverly Ernestine Jamison Carrick (later Snow) on August 23, 1949, in Bakersfield, California. His father was an up-and-coming Mobil Oil executive while his mother was a homemaker and an aspiring artist, one who would achieve fame and fortune later in life.

Not long after his birth, the family moved to Taft, California, closer to where his father worked. The Carrick Family thrived there before returning to Bakersfield once again. However, around the age of seven, Patrick's family relocated to Whittier, California, where his father became superintendent of Mobil Oil operations at Santa Fe Springs while his mother pursued her dual careers of homemaker and neophyte artist.

As Patrick grew up, he was a model student. He went to Macy School, then to Starbuck Junior High School, and eventually to La Habra High School, home of the Highlanders. During this time, he played catcher for both the intermediate and high school baseball teams even though he suffered from asthma. Possessing an amazing abundance of talent, he caught the acting bug and became a thespian playing many different roles, both dramatic as well as comedic, throughout his time at LHHS.

One of his most memorable roles in high school was playing the part of Teddy Brewster in Joseph Kesselring's classic play, "Arsenic and Old Lace." The crowd of parents, family members, guests, teachers and administrators reveled in Patrick's rambunctious character storming up and down the stairs of the set, hollering "CHARGE!" his character believing himself to be Teddy Roosevelt of Rough Riders' fame in his deranged mind.

He starred in other plays such as N. Richard Nash's "The Rainmaker," as well as demonstrated his vocal abilities (and dancing talents) in musicals such as "Finian's Rainbow," the delightful story penned by E. Y. Harburg and Burton Lane. In this stage production, Patrick played the title role of Finian McLonergan, the elderly Irishman who moved to the Old South with his daughter to bury a purloined pot of gold. For this role, he received critical acclaim from the student body and by the time he left LHHS, he was the vice president of the Drama Club.

Upon graduation in 1967, Patrick was set to head to the University of Southern California. He planned to study the Dramatic Arts and to become a professional stage actor. Before he left for USC, he married his first wife, the daughter of his drama teacher, Patricia "Trisha" Norris in a City Hall ceremony; however, before heading to college, he received his draft notice and had to report to the induction center.

At the time, the war in Vietnam was in full swing and Patrick feared that he might have to join the U.S. Army and go overseas. Thankfully for him, the same thing that bedeviled him playing baseball at school – asthma – caused Uncle Sam to take a pass on him much to his great relief.

As Patrick and his wife headed off to college, his parents gifted him his first car – a bright red MG Midget. The newlyweds loved this car and had adventures driving it back and forth over the Ridge Route from school to Bakersfield following his family's return to Kern County due to father Harry's promotion.

At USC, Patrick quickly learned that a degree in acting was not for him as drama school directors chose their favorite pets for the prime parts. Not wishing to play the necessary games with which to obtain the coveted roles that would put him at the forefront, he commenced searching for alternatives. What he discovered was the world of American jurisprudence. He changed his major to Law and upon graduation in 1971 with a bachelor's degree, he entered the prestigious USC Gould School of Law.

During his time at the university, he worked a variety of part-time jobs to earn additional income. Even though he was on full scholarship, the young couple required more income to make married dorm life palatable. Patrick worked as a bank teller at a nearby bank, as well as a truck driver for a professional tree surgeon working for the City of Los Angeles. He told family members that the urban arborist did not see well enough to drive the truck but was an artist when it came to trimming trees. Another job he held was as a clerical worker at a company that manufactured plumbing fittings and pipes. In doing so, he gained experience from each.

In 1974, he graduated towards the top of his law class. His honors include membership in the Order of the Coif. He returned to Bakersfield and went to work as a young attorney for Byrum, Kimball, and Lanier. There, he met the first of his professional and lifelong personal friends, Ken Byrum. He worked for the firm throughout the 1970s and 1980s and then moved on to Bunker, Byrum & Kimball Partners. In the late 1990s, he briefly formed a law partnership with a friend, Griffin-Carrick Attorneys at Law. Following that, he moved to LeBeau-Thelen.

The marriage to Trisha lasted into 1974 and produced no children. However, in 1975 while performing in his off-time at the Bakersfield Community Theater, he met the love of his life – props gal, Karen Marie Fogle, born September 25, 1949. It was love at first sight and on April 23, 1977, the two of them became husband and wife. This marriage would last until her passing on July 09, 2020.

Karen lived with a taxing nervous system disease- Friedrich's ataxia- which slowly robbed her of the ability to walk, move, and eventually communicate. A normal patient is lucky to get to his or her thirties before succumbing to the disease but thanks to Patrick's undying love and magnificent care, she lived to the ripe old age of seventy.

Throughout this time, the two of them traveled across Europe on various vacations – even to St. Petersburg, Russia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union – as well as to many places across the United States, including their annual pilgrimage to Ashland, Oregon, to spend a week or so at the yearly get together of thespians, playwrights, directors, and performances. They visited Oregon every year until Covid-19 arrived on scene and prevented further journeys to the Beaver State.

At LeBeau-Thelen, he became a valued attorney and eventually a partner. His acting talents added fuel to his courtroom presence. In some ways a 'hired gun' depending on whom retained his services, he might argue for one client one way while for another, he might be on the opposite side. His expertise centered around agriculture, civil litigation, environmental issues, public agency, and oil and gas. As the firm's managing partner quipped, 'Patrick always performed a Cadillac-quality job when occasionally a lesser make might have sufficed.'

In his spare time, Patrick continued acting on the side performing many parts at a variety of theaters in Bakersfield. In fact, at the time of his death, he was studying for a part in Ernest Thompson's "On Golden Pond." He was looking forward to being back in front of audiences.

On May 25, 2024, Patrick entered Adventist Health to get help with losing excess water weight due to him having congestive heart failure, a condition that began vexing him in 2020. He did not plan to be in the hospital very long but sadly, he was never able to leave and return home. Around 1800 hours on June 10, 2024, he passed away having been unconscious for a couple of days. One thing led to another and slowly and methodically, his body's organs shut down like a row of dominoes.

He is beloved by many and has countless friends, neighbors, and caretakers who miss him dearly. In fact, two of his closest friends – Tonya and Darlene – came into his life caring for wife, Karen, and ended up caring for him while he underwent various treatments over the past several years and were by his side when he passed. Tonya describes him as a 'man of dry humor and quick wit.' According to her, he regaled everyone with stories and possessed joie de vivre very few are fortunate to ever have in life.

It seemed that everyone he touched now endures a horrendous hole in their hearts. Many of his friends have known him for half-a-century if not longer. He loved being in nature, loved photography, enjoyed dining with friends, and in his spare time wrote short stories and plays.

He is survived by his wife's two nephews – Ryan Fogle and Aaron Fogle – and their families, as well as by one brother and sister-in-law. At some point in the future, a remembrance of his life will occur but seeing as how he was not a religious person, no services will presently take place. His cremated remains will rest alongside those of his beloved wife, Karen, in the home of his brother.

Please send condolences to Brian and Linda Carrick at PO Box 20669, Bakersfield, California, 93390-0669 and from these cards, we will compile our list for the future celebration. We thank you.