Donald J McCarty

McCARTY, Donald J.
Of Kalamazoo Donald J. McCarty passed away Thursday, April 23, 2009. Don was born June 10, 1929, in Kalamazoo, the son of Donald L. and Myrtle M. Dupuis McCarty. He was a lifelong Kalamazoo resident who was active throughout the years with WW II China Marine USMC, Korean Vet, USMCR, Marine I & I USMC Naval Training Center, Kalamazoo, MI; Veteran Sheriff's Deputy & marine water safety Div. Lt. the very first. Member of the China Marine Assn., Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Portage Masonic Blue Lodge #340 since 1954; Saladin Shrine Temple, 32nd Scottish Rite, Jesters Court #11 Grand Rapids, Past President Kalamazoo Shrine Club, and Clowns, Masonic Retiree's Club, Portage Moose Lodge #88, Portage VFW Post #5855, ARRP, TPA, Antique Car Club of Kalamazoo, Upjohn Morning Bowling league for 20 years, All Seasons, coast to coast, President camping resorts. An avid golfer, loved traveling in RV, fishing, flying and attending air shows around the country, and a retired 23 year Security Supervisor with The Upjohn Company. At the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department, he served under four Sheriff's, Otto K. Buder, Bertram "Scotty" Macgregor, Glenn K. Hammel, and Kirby A. Mason, as a jailor, radio dispatch, highway patrol officer, criminal investigator, and Lt. in charge of the first Water Marine Division in the Department, and assisted in writing the Marine Laws for the State of Michigan under James A. Hadley Michigan Marine Water Safety Division, with Robert Dyke who assisted him in the Division. On January 20, 1950, Don was united in marriage to the former Connie L. Ross who survives. Also surviving are their daughter, Linda Lee McCarty of Kalamazoo; his mother, Myrtle McCarty of Kalamazoo, his siblings, Robert Shirley McCarty of Plant City, FL, John Virginia McCarty of Shreveport, LA, Janet Tom Matecum of Dublin, GA, Maryann Ronald Fleckenstein of Kalamazoo; brother-in-law, Cleo Ross of Fruitland, FL; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father. The family will receive friends on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 PM at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street, where a service to celebrate Don's life will be held 2:00 PM Monday. Interment with full military honors will follow in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don's name may be directed to Saladin Crippled Children's Hospital or Kalamazoo Shrine Club Clown Unit. Please visit www.langelands.com for online guestbook and condolences for the family.