Bishop Cary was born in Portland, Oregon and ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese in 1992. Before ordination to the priesthood, Bishop spent time working in a legal aid office, studying Spanish for a summer in Mexico, working at a medical clinic in California, and painting houses. In his priesthood, he spent time as the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese and chaplain to a group of religious sisters as well as continuing involvement in Hispanic ministry. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Bishop of Baker where he has served since then.