Charles Ray McCarty, 86, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2016.
He was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Naylor, son of Roy E. and Fanny McCord McCarty. He and Dolores Clauser McCarty were married in 1954.
Most of his childhood was spent in Naylor except for a few years during WWII when the family lived in South St. Louis. He graduated from Naylor High School in May 1947.
He graduated from the College of Mortuary Science in St Louis before being drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict. He served from 1951-’53.
He was a funeral director and embalmer in Fredericktown, Alton, Ill., and Webster Groves from 1965 until he retired in 1991. He considered the funeral business his ministry.
His faith in Jesus was most important to him. He served in every church he was a member of through the years.
He and his wife, Dolores, lived in Crestwood from 1965 until 2005. They relocated to Licking. The past four years they have lived in several retirement communities in Rolla and Overland Park, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Dolores Clauser McCarty of the home; three children Marcus McCarty of Leawood, Kan., Barbara Hagler of St. Paul, Minn., and Carol Gorman of Licking; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were Saturday, March 5, at Fox Funeral Home with Pastor Rob Lilly officiating. Burial was in Marcus Memorial Park in Fredericktown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
