Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
MARY ELIZABETH ``MOLLIE'' MCCARTY
Riser Funeral Home
Mary Elizabeth Poole ``Mollie'' McCarty, 94, passed away August 2, 2002. She was born in Sherwood, Louisiana on December 14, 1907. She was the eldest of five children born to Lucinda and Cleve Poole. She married the love of her life, Ross Roy McCarty, on June 16, 1932 and embarked on a journey pursuing his career as a petroleum engineer with Exxon that took them to New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and New York. They moved from Houston, TX to Harrisonburg, LA in 1966 where they built their ``dream house'' and started their second life in retirement. They were married for 55 years before her beloved Roy passed away in 1987. Mollie was also preceded in death by her parents and her stepfather, Vanner Ratcliff, brother, Grady Poole, her sisters, Leola Eubanks and Florence Hardee and her son-in-law, Bill Beakley. She is survived by her sister, Grace Bell, daughters, Gwendolyn Beakley of Lake Charles, LA, with whom she has resided for the last 10 years, and Elizabeth Glenney and her husband, James R. Glenney, of Houston, Texas. ``MeMa'' leaves behind four grandchildren, Cathy Trahan, Grady Beakley, Meagan Glenney and Caitlin Glenney all of the Houston area and four great grandchildren, Cheramie Trahan, Cherie Trahan, Leila Beakley, and Kimberly Beakley. Her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends will lovingly remember her.
In retirement, ``Miss Mollie'' became involved in civic and community affairs. She was the first woman to be elected to the Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation District Board and served in that capacity for 20 years. She shared her love and concern for natural resources by planning and developing the first nature trail in her parish as well as initiating a Dogwood Trail Drive through the Catahoula hills. She received numerous awards for her efforts in conservation including the Governor's Award for seeing that garbage dumpsters were placed throughout Catahoula Parish The Daughters of the American Revolution highest award for dedication to the conservation of natural resources the Stone Container ``Landowner of the Year'' for 1991 and an ``Award of Merit'' from the Goodyear/NACD program for resource conservation. Through her leadership in the Harrisonburg Woman's Club, the ``Sargent's House'' was enrolled on the Historical Register. She served on the Catahoula Parish hospital Board of Directors and was the first president of the Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Harrisonburg, LA. She will always be remembered for her devotion as a wife and mother, her interest in the stock market, decorating and entertaining ``on the hill'', her love of hats, Community coffee, dogwoods, and the beauty of Louisiana.
Mollie's pallbearers will be Grady Beakley, Jim Glenney, Curtis Trahan, Elton Eubanks, Dr. Don Eubanks, M.D., Ben Bell, Cleve Womack, and Bill Womack. Visitation will be at the First Baptist Church of Harrisonburg, LA beginning at l0:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2002 with a celebration of her life following at 1:00 p.m.with Dr. Ralph E. Webber D.D. officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow for family members at Rosefield Cemetery, Rosefield, LA. Services are under the direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia, LA.
In Iieu of flowers, for those desiring, memorial contributions may he made to Rosefield Cemetery Fund c/o R.S. Tullos HC 86 Box 46, Grayson, LA 71435 or the First Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 356, Harrisonburg, LA 71340.
Sunday, August 4, 2002
Columbia, LA