Philip Walter McCarty

PHILIP WALTER MCCARTY, dearly loved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died on August 16, 2016. Born in Helena, Ark., in 1949, Phil was the son of Dr. Pat and Mildred McCarty. He graduated from Helena High School and attended the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He then returned home to begin a fulfilling career in the insurance and financial services field which led him to Blytheville, Ark., and Lakeland, Fla., before locating in Little Rock in 1994. In addition to his active career, Phil was an enthusiastic member of Bible Study Fellowship and St. Andrews Church. He was a man of many interests: he loved sports, especially the Razorbacks; he was a lifelong competitive tennis player; he was a great amateur photographer who took wonderful pictures because of his ability to elicit smiles from his subjects; and he was a gifted musician, playing the drums in high school and college and then later in life for the Asbury Prison Band and the band Kavanaugh. He also was a student of leadership and was a gifted leader. Despite his many activities, his greatest joy in life was his family and friends. With his vibrant personality, Phil brought a smile to the face of everyone who knew him. He treated both friend and stranger alike and brightened the day of everyone he encountered. His strong faith in Christ brought him joy and hope, and even when faced with cancer he demonstrated remarkable courage, perseverance and a refusal to complain. His ability to encourage and comfort others never wavered. Phil is survived by his wife Suzanne; daughters, Erin George (Robert) of Jacksonville, Fla., and Molly McCarty of Plantation, Fla.; stepson, Nathaniel Gordon and stepdaughter, Christina Gordon; siblings, Pat McCarty Jr. (Bankie), Kate Foster (Charlie), Judy Deshaies and Mike McCarty (Anita), all of Memphis, Tenn.; and grandchildren, Ella, Patrick and Matthew. A time of fellowship and celebration of Phil's life and legacy will be held Friday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. and a Memorial Service honoring Phil's life will be on Saturday, September 3, at 10 a.m. Both services will be at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, 8300 Kanis Road, Little Rock. Gifts in his memory may be made to The Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 4301 W Markham, Slot 623 F, Little Rock, 72205 or the Asbury Prison Ministry, 1700 Napa Valley, Little Rock, 72211. For more information, see www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.