Marian Abernathy McCarty 1913 - 2012
Funeral services for Marian McCarty, 99, will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, February 14 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton, Missouri. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Monday, February 13, at the Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, 813 Custer Street.
Marian died at her home Friday, February 10th in Trenton. Born Melba Marian Abernathy on January 4, 1913, in Columbus Junction, Iowa, she was the only child of Frank Ellsworth and Stella Viola Chaney Abernathy. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Howard Stuart McCarty. She is survived by one son, Frank Edward McCarty and his wife Cathy; one grandson, Casey Hoyle McCarty; two nieces and two great-nieces.
Marian’s life was marked by persistence and determination. She overcame financial barricades to achieve a college education, overcame breast-cancer at age 42, combined teaching with homemaking at a time when few mothers were in the work force, and in retirement and widowhood, expanded her volunteerism into another career.
While she was in high school, The Great Depression hit Trenton and Marian’s father lost his job. Marian was able to earn a year’s tuition to Trenton Junior College by working at the Grundy County Jewett Norris Library. She met her goal in 1932 when she graduated from TJC with a teacher’s certificate.
She began teaching in the Grundy County in area rural schools in Laredo and Jameson. After this she moved into the Trenton R-9 system, she taught a fifth and sixth grade combination at Central School. During summers she continued her education. A professor at the University of Missouri, School of Education urged her to accept a stipend towards an education scholarship by serving as the assistant director of the Crippled Children’s Ward at the University Hospital in Columbia. Simultaneously, Marian completed her studies for a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the University of Missouri, graduating in 1939. The next year she taught in Crystal City, Missouri.
A long-standing courtship resulted in marriage to Howard Stuart McCarty of Trenton in September 1940. He was drafted into the Army in 1942. Most of Marian’s World War II years were spent in Little Rock, Arkansas, and most of Howard’s were spent overseas in a German Prisoner of War camp. Marian worked at several post-exchanges jobs: filing clerk, receptionist, trainer for indoctrination of post- exchange employees, office manager of post-exchange personnel, and personnel director.
When Howard returned from the war, jobs were hard to find. They did find work in Kansas City but in 1948 they decided to move to Trenton where they purchased a locally owned grocery store. Marian was a full-time mother for her son Edward and kept the books for their grocery business, McCarty’s Market. During these years, Marian taught Sunday school at the Wesley United Methodist Church, and, along with several friends who had graduated from Trenton High School, she helped start the THS Reunion Weekend that is still held in Trenton each Labor Day.
While Living in Kansas City, Marian had joined the American Association of University Women in 1941. After 1948 she became active in the Trenton branch of AAUW, filling all offices including the presidency from 1969 to 1971. In 1997 Marian was awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership in AAUW after over 50 years of membership and service.
In 1955 Marian was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery and recuperation, she decided to return to her teaching career, teaching first at Edinburg and later teaching mathematics and drama at Trenton Junior High School.
Upon completing twenty years in the Missouri school system, Marian retired in 1976. Howard sold McCarty’s Market that summer, and the couple enjoyed retirement until Howard’s death, on August 19, 1986.
In the early 1970s, the American Cancer Society added Reach to Recovery as one of its programs to help women recovering from breast cancer. Marian became an integral part of Reach to Recovery in Missouri, visiting and encouraging hundreds of women who were battling breast cancer. In 1992 she was a trainer and volunteer for that program in eleven counties. She became the first volunteer in Missouri to receive the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service in cancer control from the American Cancer Society, Missouri Division. Presented in October 1991, the award recognized Marian’s more than ten years of service as the state coordinator of the Reach to Recovery Program. In 1988 she was the second Missouri recipient of the Terese Lasser Award as the Outstanding Reach to Recovery volunteer.
In 1982, Marian helped found the Foundation Trust for Trenton High School. She served as secretary-treasurer until 2011. Through this organization, THS alumni have given thousands of dollars to benefit Trenton High School.
Marian served as board chairman of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, as a member of the Senior Citizens Center Board. Marian was a founding board member of the Grundy County Museum and along with others made the museum a successful reality. She served as vice-president of the Grundy County Historical Society, as chairman of the programs and displays for the Museum, and as chairman of the service committee of the Wright Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Grand River Garden Club, Shakespearean Circle, Heritage Club, Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and American Ex-Prisoners of War. After retirement, she became a member of the administrative board at Wesley United Methodist church and was a circle leader for the United Methodist Women.
She enjoyed her grandson Casey so much, most recently over the 2011 Christmas holidays. In her spare time, she played bridge, belonged to the Master Gardeners, worked crossword puzzles, refinished old furniture, and traveled for vacation and to visit family and friends.
Marian spent many winters in Florida with Howard after retirement and later by herself in the Rio Grand Valley in South Texas where she made many friends and where she started a water aerobics class for the residents of her park and served as a water aerobics instructor, in her 80s, each winter there for many years.
In 2003 Marian was the recipient of the Hall of Fame award from the Trenton Chamber of Commerce for her years of service and commitment to the betterment of her beloved Trenton. In her remarks that evening she challenged the younger generations in Trenton to become involved in the Trenton community, to volunteer, to serve, and to continue the work of so many who have gone before them. In recognition of her outstanding service to Trenton Junior College, (now North Central Missouri College), Marian was honored as a member of the 2005 class of Outstanding TJC/NCMC Alumni.
If you wish to honor Marian please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, NCMC’s Geyer Hall renovation project, or the Grundy County Museum or become a Volunteer.
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