John P. Jack Mccarthy

Jack McCarthy, 87, formerly of Lake Charles, LA, died peacefully on Monday February 14, 2011, in Niceville, Fl, while residing in an assisted living community.

Jack was born June 15, 1923, in Plymouth Township, PA, to Thomas McCarthy and Stephanie Kavetski McCarthy. He lived his childhood in Nanticoke, PA with two brothers, Tom and Jim, and three sisters, Mary, Janie, and Julie, full of antics and stories he always loved to tell. Upon graduation from high school he was anxious, even fibbed just a bit about his age, to be accepted in the United States Marine Corps. During his service from 1942 to 1945 he was stationed primarily in the South Pacific. After returning stateside he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College where he was the captain of the track team, and the star record-holding hurdler, gaining the nickname Banana Legs McCarthy. After graduation he became a Field Director with the American Red Cross, traveling extensively to help those in need through Europe and North Africa, then found his way to South Louisiana where he met and soon married Frances McDonald.

Settling in Lake Charles, he became the Regional Manager for Vocational Rehabilitation until his retirement in the mid 1980's. After retiring from the state he promptly returned to work with Beltone until the early 1990's when he elected to leave work and take care of his wife, Frances, during her battle with cancer.

Jack often said If I died tomorrow I have lived a wonderful life with no regrets. He loved many things including Poetry (especially written by his father), gardening with his daughters, crossword puzzles at the morning breakfast table, fishing and camping with buddies, shooting pool with a cold Pearl Lite nearby, laughing and telling jokes (to which we often said Daddy that joke gets funnier every time you tell it), and spending time with his family and friends. He also was a proud 39-year lifetime member of the American Legion Post 1 along with many of his closest friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Frances McDonald McCarthy.

He is survived by his daughter, Julia McCarthy Pounds, her husband Jim, and two grandchildren Ben and Adair, from Chevy Chase, MD, and daughter Jane Adair McCarthy of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Johnson Funeral Home on Friday February 18, 2011, beginning at 10:00 am until the start of the funeral service at 12:00 noon. A private burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens.