Industry Figure Carey Downs Dies in Boating Accident

Well-known for his work at Pier 57 Marine when it was based in Counce, Tenn., and owned by David Woods, Carey Downs died last night along with Jeremie Floyd (the husband of Marsha Floyd, a fellow longtime Woods employee) in a boating accident. Downs was the 39 years old. Floyd was 40 years old.

Although details of last night’s accident are scarce at present and still filtering in, Downs and Jeremie Floyd reportedly were riding in a bass fishing boat when they collided with a barge on the Tennessee River. While Floyd’s body was found immediately by first responders, it took several hours to locate Downs’ body.

Downs remained a frequent and familiar face at boat shows and high-performance boating events around the country even after the merger between Pier 57 and Sjogren Performance Marine, which took on the Pier 57 name and moved the bulk of the business to Waukegan, Ill. (and subsequently Gurnee, Ill.), in early 2012. He reportedly continued working as a service manager for Woods, who maintained a shop for local clients who had purchased boats through his dealership.

“Carey was great to be around, just a happy-go-lucky and genuinely nice guy,” said Scott Sjogren, the owner of Pier 57 Marine. “I’m so grateful for the time I was able to spend with him during the merger of Sjogren and Pier 57.”

“I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like Carey,” said Down’s longtime friend, Greg Harris. “He always had a smile and a handshake for anybody he could find.”

Downs with longtime friend and fellow high-performance powerboat enthusiast, Reese Lewis. Wrote Lewis in a Facebook post today: “I can’t breathe—this is so devastating.”

Editor’s note: Speedonthewater.com extends its heartfelt condolences to the Downs and Floyd families.