John "Jack" McCarty, 71, of East Ridge, TN, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024.  A smooth sea never made a good sailor. A man's legacy is often defined by what he can provide, and less about the sacrifices he makes for those things.

Nobody handled the waves of life better than John Francis McCarty, Jack. The level of grit it takes to survive the inner city of Boston prepared him for so much. He proudly sacrificed his youth to serve our country, during one of the hardest times in American history, Vietnam.

From the city life, to war time service, he still found time to live, and to love. In a pub, he found Laura, his wife. Together they gave each other life, and the belief that anything is possible if they did it together. A love that lasted thousands of miles, and countless challenges. They gave each other life and support to pursue all the things they wanted in life and an undying amount of laughter for the hard times.

Even those sacrifices do not amount to what he did for his family. A proud father of five kids, Jackie, Robert, John, Brian, and Michael. He worked tirelessly to provide them with the biggest gift anyone can offer, opportunity.

Family vacations centered around the ocean, as if our father was connected to the waves, strength, and calm that the ocean provided. Much like life, some waves are harder to handle than others, and you have to be strong enough to take them. And he was always right there to help us back up, with a face full of laughter and eyes eager for the next wave.

John McCarty was someone who could take lifes hardest waves, and smile about it. He could calm a nervous room in the hardest of times with a joke. He embodied the ability to not know how he was gonna get it done, but still get it done.

Life threw the toughest storms at John, from life-threatening double brain aneurysms to his silent battle with cancer. And you could light the sky with his joy, smile, kindness, and jokes. He loved in his own way, and boy was it enough.

He loved the city he was from, the sports mecca it became, and the way sports brought people together. He always cheered hardest for the players who did the little things it took to win, those who sacrificed for the greater good.

He loved his brothers, his sister, and all they accomplished in their lives despite all the odds that the city stacked against them. Strength runs in this family, as does the relentless ability to overcome so much. His eyes always told you how proud he was of all of us.

John McCarty, born November 8th, 1952, took his final sail on February 8th, 2024 in his home in Chattanooga, TN, surrounded by those who loved him. His legacy will live on in the strength and laughter he provided for all of us.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Edward McCarty and Mildred Searle.

Jack is survived by his wife, Laura Theresa McDonald-McCarty; sons, John McCarty, Robert McCarty (Sabrina), Richard Barrett (Jennifer), John Livingston (Candy), Brian McDonald (Jessica Revels), Michael McDonald (Catherine Johnson); brothers, Brian McCarty (Maria) and Edward McCarty (Angela); sister, Alice Lenning (Grady); grandchildren, Dakota Livingston, Zachary Livingston, Austin Livingston, Jaden Barrett, Emalee McDonald, Alison McCarty, Mariah Barrett, Lily McDonald; great-grandchildren, Ava Muhammad, Laya Muhammad, Valisity Livingston and Dutton Livingston, as well as several loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Minister Judy Scott officiating.

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