Recipes for Living Richard Marker

Merrill's parents, Harry Russell and Mildred Louise McIntosh McCarty, farmed in Liberty township north of Woodburn. Harry served on the Clarke County Board of Supervisors for awhile. Merrill was born June 20, 1926, grew up and went to the Quiet Dell school at Liberty. When he attended high school in New Virginia, he had to walk three miles to catch the bus. He pitched on the baseball team and also played basketball. He graduated in 1944. He was known to friends and family as Sholly.

People didn't travel far in those days and although Liberty and New Virginia weren't far apart, it wasn't until they were both in high school that Velma Taylor and Merrill McCarty met. Velma lived in New Virginia, a daughter of Harold and Lulu Taylor. Her father operated the county maintainer.

Velma had three sisters. The oldest, Ruth, now 87, lives in Des Moines, Shirley passed away several years ago. She lived in Olathe, Kansas. Belva McCann is widowed, and lives in Des Moines. Velma also is widowed. Velma always wanted to be a nurse. She liked to read. In high school she played basketball when there were six to a team — six on six, and she was a forward. Velma's father would not let the girls date until they were 16, and that was when she and Merrill began dating.

When Merrill graduated, it was time for him to serve in the military. He went to Kansas City to join in June, 1944. He chose to be in the Navy Air Corps. He was sent to Memphis, Tennessee for six weeks to the Naval Air Force Base. Velma and his father, Harry, went to see Merrill while he was in Memphis, and he came home as soon as he had a leave. He and Velma were married on July 7, 1945. He was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, then to San Diego.

When he was sent to Oak Harbor, Whidley Island on Puget Sound Air Base, he sent money for Velma to come to join him. He was trained to fly PBYs, amphibious planes. He was so proud of them. His classification was Aviation Ordnanceman (gunner). He served for 18 months on Guantanamo and spoke about the clear blue water. Peace was declared and he didn't ever have to go overseas.

After he was discharged, Merrill and Velma bought 160 acres from neighbors, who gave them money for the down payment. Merrill always enjoyed farming and particularly raising cattle. He also worked for ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service) for many years, approving ground for many government programs. He played softball with a state-contending team from Woodburn where he made many lifetime friends. Merrill also enjoyed hunting and fishing in Minnesota. He was a 60-year member of the New Virginia American Legion Post and a longtime member of the Osceola United Methodist Church.

There came a time when Velma wanted a davenport and went to work at Robinsons Store in Osceola to earn money to buy one. She was there for eight months, but her sister was working in Des Moines for better wages, so she went there to work with her.

Merrill and Velma had three children. Her comment was, "Merrill was such a good man and a wonderful father! The children thought he was God Almighty and I was the Wicked Witch of the West, but somebody had to discipline them."

They considered Michael, the first born, a miracle because Velma had come from a family of girls. He never gave his parents a minute of trouble. He helped on the farm and played Little League. Velma always believed in education and wanted it for the children. After Michael graduated from high school, he went to Ames, intending to major in Agricultural Engineering but got his degree in Animal Science. He is married to Connie Brown and they live in Helena, Montana, where he is employed by Montana Power and Light.

Velma wanted to name their first daughter Melissa, but did not want her nicknamed Missy, so they named her Lael, which Velma had seen as the name of an author — Lael Jackson. She was their little homemaker, and after graduation she attended AIB (American Institute of Business). She married Marlin Wing and works at Wells Fargo in Des Moines.

Their third daughter, Sue, married Ron White, the son of the late Arden and Doris White. She is a Registered Nurse, employed in the Oncology Department of the McFarland Clinic in Ames. There are seven grandchildren.

The family had great times together. They traveled to the Black Hills, Colorado, and the Wisconsin Dells. Merrill and Velma also loved to square dance.

Velma had cancer surgery followed by chemotherapy years ago and thought she was cancer free. She cared for Merrill for 10 years during his illness until he passed away November 19, 2006. Shortly thereafter, she had a terrible pain and was taken to the emergency room of the hospital, where they discovered that the cancer was still present in her body in a portion of the intestine that had twisted and formed a pocket. It had been contained there, which she believes was God's plan to give her time to take care of Merrill. At the time of this writing, she is receiving care at the Rehabilitation Center north of Osceola.

All who know her are impressed by her indomitable spirit. She had said to Merrill in the latter part of their life, "Hasn't this been fun?" They were served by Hospice during Merrill's last days and when she was told that she could tell him goodbye, she said, "I will never say goodbye to him." Instead he took with him her last words, "I will see you soon."

Velma Arlys McCarty, daughter of Harold Lyle Taylor and Mary Lulu Wicket Taylor, was born July 20, 1927, in New Virginia. She died April 23, 2007 at the Osceola Nursing and Rehab Center in Osceola. She was 79.

She grew up in New Virginia and graduated from New Virginia High School in 1944. She worked as a printing press operator for Weeks/Leo and at the Kirkwood Hotel. She married Merrill Hollis McCarty on July 7, 1945 in New Virginia, while he was home on leave from the military. Three children blessed this union, Michael, Lael and Sue.

The couple made their home on a family farm near Osceola until 2003. Mrs. McCarty worked for Robinson's Department Store in Osceola for more than 30 years. She retired in 1990. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in New Virginia, the Ophir Chapter No. 267 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a volunteer at the Clarke County Hospital.

She enjoyed times with family and friends. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, playing cards, square dancing, camping, traveling and reading historical novels. She was a member of the Osceola United Methodist Church.

Mrs. McCarty was preceded in death by her parents, husband Merrill in November 2006, and her sister, Shirley Clegg.

She is survived by her son, Michael McCarty and wife Connie of Helena, Montana; daughter Lael Wing and husband Marlin of Colfax; daughter Sue White and husband Ron of Ames, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Jon McCarty and Angela Neff of Helena; Brady and Trevor White of Ames; Stacy Ray and husband Forrest of State Center; Lonny Wing and wife Jenny of Prairie City, Iowa; Theresa Hadsall and husband Joe of Colfax, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren, Tori, Colton, Danielle, Autumn, Cameron, Marilyn, Chance and Joshua; sisters, Belva McCann and Ruth Bowlin, both of Des Moines, as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. McCarty were April 26, 2007, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola the Rev. Hugh Stone officiating. Organist Anna Froeling and vocalist Butch Black.

Casket bearers were Lee Wright, Dave Garner, Lonny Wing, Joe Hadsall, Brady White and Trevor White. Interment was in the New Virginia Cemetery, New Virginia. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Central Iowa in Mt. Ayr or Osceola United Methodist Church.