Patricia Ann McCarty departed from this world on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the age of (81).

Patricia (Pat) was born to Ralph and Charlotte (Riley) Murphy on October 1, 1943, in Springfield, Missouri. She and her mother spent the first few years of her life living with grandparents while her father served in WWII as an Army medic.

After her father returned from the war they moved into their own home on Douglas Street. She would soon be blessed with a little sister (Linda). The sisters maintained a very close and special bond all of her life. The family would later move into a home on Franklin Street.

Patricia’s childhood could easily be described as a normal working-class childhood where children played and rode their bikes all over the neighborhood without worry and care. She attended Bowerman Elementary School, Reed Junior High School, she attended (9^th) grade at Central High School, and the (10^th-12^th) at Hillcrest High School. While in High School she worked at Woolworths at the Soda Fountain. She did recently tell a great-granddaughter that she would have rather been playing at home and in the neighborhood rather than working.

She was a proud member of the Hillcrest Highlanders Drum & Bugle Corps. She was a very talented musician, playing the violin for many years with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

It was at Hillcrest that she met and fell in love with Larry Joe McCarty. They married soon after graduation in 1961 and were married for (63) years. To this union were born (3) sons – Mark (Pam); John (Ginger); Andy (Kathi). Larry was recently asked if Patricia had served in the Military. He replied, “No, but she raised three sons.”  She loved being a mother and a wife, and all who lived in her home, including the foster children that would come and go, they all knew that they were loved and cared for. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren always looked forward to their “Carty” days. A name given her by one of the granddaughters. The name “Carty” stuck.

When her children got older she took a job at Marketing Financial Services where she worked for some thirty years.

She loved traveling with Larry, whether it be by plane, car, or on the back of a motorcycle. They traveled all over the United States and Canada. One of her many special talents was that she had no problem reading a book while traveling down the highway on the back of the Gold Wing or Harley Davidson. She loved to read and ride on the motorcycle. She was a “Harley Mama”.

Above all else Patricia lived a life of faithful devoted Christian service to her Lord and to all she came in contact with. She was the Golden Rule. She was a baptized believer added into the Lord’s church (Acts 2). She assembled and worshipped faithfully at the Kansas Expressway Church of Christ. Over the years she taught children’s bible classes, produced church bulletins, decorated classroom bulletin boards, taught Vacation Bible School Classes, helped with church mailers, worked on Evangelistic Soul-Winning Campaigns, taught one-on-one personal bible studies, and the list goes on. She was a light that could not be hidden.

“… Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on … that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Rev 14:13)

Whether you knew her as Patricia, Pat, Perky, Hon, Mom, Grandma, Carty, Miss Pat, Sunshine, or Sister Pat, you were influenced for the better. She’s gone home to rest, but her works and influence remain.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph & Charlotte. She is survived by her sister, Linda Gillick; her husband, Larry; her sons and daughter in-laws; Mark & Pam, John & Ginger, Andy & Kathi; her grand-children, Amanda (Adam), Kaitlin, Justin (Shai), Joshua (Melanie), Charlotte (Jake), Tiffany; Matthew (Emily); her great-grandchildren, Linzie, Emmie, Callie, Andy, Eliam, Alyas, Lydia, Rachel, Ayson, Lyllian, Aaliyah, Jonathan.

The family wishes to thank the very special folks at Cox Health Hospice Care for the love and care shown Patricia and her family.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to Cox Health Hospice Care (2240 W. Sunset St, Suite 104) in memory of Patricia Ann McCarty.

Arrangements are under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home North.