Memorial Tribute
Clifford "Cliff" Raymond McCarty, the son of Valentine Marnius and Frances (Stallman) McCarty, was born January 2, 1930 in Murray County, Minnesota. He lived his youth in the rural Lake Park and Hartley, Iowa areas, graduating from Hartley High School in 1949. He was involved in school activities, including sports.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January of 1952 and served in Korea, where he established life-long friendships. He was honorably discharged in January of 1954 and awarded the Purple Heart.

He was united in marriage to Marilyn Joyce Muilenburg on August 20, 1955 in Sibley, Iowa. From 1959 until 1965, he was an elevator manager for Quaker Oats in Plessis and Lester, Iowa. In 1966, he and his brother-in-law, Lyle, purchased a truck line in Melvin, Iowa. Three years later he became sole owner, operating McCarty Truck-lines until his retirement in 1993.

Cliff was extremely involved in the community of Melvin and served on the city council and as a fireman. Many who grew up in Melvin will remember him driving the mosquito fogger on hot summer nights. He served multiple terms as major and as fire chief. He also served on the Northwest Iowa Area Solid Waste Agency from 1974 through 1994. He was an active member of the American Legion Post #470 where he served one term as Commander. He was a long-time member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, where he served on the church council and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Throughout his life he was an avid sports fan, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. In later years, he learned the game of golf and even brought home a championship trophy. He and Marilyn put many miles on their Mercury, driving all over the state of Iowa to attend their grandchildren's high school events. Other pastimes included gardening, playing cards and trips to various casinos. His brothers and sisters were a priority in his life, and even dubbed him as the leader of the clan at many of their family reunions. Each Christmas season, he would make batches of whiskey balls and grasshoppers to the delight of his grandchildren. He also loved taking his grandchildren trucking with him.

Cliff was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1986; a diagnosis that he accepted with courage and fought with intensity. He entered Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn in July of 2005, and passed away there on November 8, 2009 at the age of 79.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Sue (Randy) Riecks of Alta, Iowa, Gene (Colleen) McCarty of Justin, Texas, Kay (Michael) Wynja of Melvin, Iowa, and Dean (Kathy) McCarty of LeMars, Iowa; 10 grandchildren: Andrea (Eric) Wiesenmeyer, Philip (Kristin) Riecks, Jennifer Riecks (fiancé Peter Karle), Jason McCarty, Matthew McCarty, Bret Wynja, Patrick Wynja, Anthony Wynja, Shane McCarty and Drew McCarty; one great-grandchild, Emily Wynja; two brothers, Dan and Larry McCarty, and six sisters: Rosemary Salber, Patricia Starman, Janice Benz, Ruth Adams, Yvonne Kopp, and Marilyn Newman; two brothers-in-law, Lyle (Barbara) Muilenburg, and Gary Muilenburg; many nieces and nephews, good friends and his Marine buddies, Richard Luke and Robert Pope.