Richard McCarty

By | March 27, 2017

Richard McCarty, age 67, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 24, 2017. Rick was born in Rensselaer, Indiana on Feb. 18, 1950. He was the son of his two beloved parents, Acy McCarty and Eva McCarty Parsons and the brother to his two best friends, Patricia Pletcher and Robert (Donna) McCarty, both of Jackson.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janice McCarty, along with his son, James (Beth) McCarty of Jackson, and his daughter, Sarah (Jonathan) Ellis of Charleston, West Virginia. He will be greatly missed by his five grandsons, Grant, Luke, and Owen McCarty, and Jay and Prescott Ellis, along with several beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He graduated from Jackson High School in 1968 and was a Navy Seabee from 1968 to 1972. He graduated from Clark State Community College with an Associate’s degree in civil engineering in 1975. In Rick’s early years in construction, he was employed by Bucy & Hill in Chillicothe and KCI in Jackson. In 1984, he founded McCarty Construction and later SJM Construction. He worked tirelessly, but was passionate about his work and thoroughly enjoyed it. His company grew and he was proud to have employed many and developed the Jackson area.

In addition to construction, Rick developed the Sarah James Industrial Park in the area that is now McCarty Lane. His vision to turn a hay field into an economic thoroughfare for the community was realized when he was granted access for a road onto U.S. Route 35. This accomplishment was recognized in 1994 when he was named the Southeastern Ohio Regional Commission’s Person of the Year. Rick also served as a full board member on the Jackson County Economic Development Board. Rick was formerly a member of the Jackson Lions Club and believed its eyesight projects were important. He especially enjoyed his years of serving veals and fish at the Apple Festival and talking with the children at the Santa House during Christmas time.

Rick was a proud American, a proud Jackson Countian, and a proud husband, father, grandpa and brother. He always had a spirit of gratefulness, selflessness, and good humor and reminded us all that “It’s a great day to be alive.”

Friends may call Tuesday, March 28, 2017 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Minister Ryan McCarty and Reverend Janie Karl officiating. Burial will follow in Pattonsville Cemetery with military graveside honors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillumfuneralhomes.com