Delores Jean McCarty

Our precious wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and dear friend went to be with her Lord this week on February 21, 2022. Dee was, without a doubt, one of the most loving, caring, compassionate and welcoming people you’d ever have the privilege to meet.

Born in Moorefield, West Virginia to Landon Vetter and Mildred Robinette, she lived the early years of her life with her adored grandmother Vetter, from whom she learned her sewing skills. Later, the family moved to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland where her father owned and operated a stone quarry business. They lived in one of the three small houses built right across the road from the lake. She loved learning! She graduated from Southern High School and went on to Frostburg State College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree and her teaching certificate.

Her first teaching job was as a Core teacher (Geography/English/Social Studies) at Suitland Junior High School. Three weeks into her new teaching career, the school had an immediate need for 2 women physical education teachers and Delores accepted one of those positions. The school also needed 2 men physical education teachers and East Stroudsburg State College contacted Suitland to offer an interview with a new graduate, Donald McCarty from Philadelphia.

Delores Vetter and Donald McCarty were married at the Deep Creek Baptist Church on June 10, 1961. The two were the second couple to ever be married at that church. After marrying, they were no longer able to teach at the same school, so Delores moved to Frederick Sasser Jr/Sr High School for the next couple of years until the couple decided to start their family.

On September 10, 1964, almost 2 years after the birth of their first child, Don and Dee proudly bought a home in an exciting, new Levitt development in a nearby town called Bowie. They selected a lovely, 3 bedroom rancher in the ‘M’ section with a wonderful lot. Dee quit her teaching job to stay at home to raise the family and Don took on summer and part time jobs to help make ends meet.

Soon after buying their new home, Dee and Don joined Christian Community Presbyterian Church (CCPC). Dewey Dodds was the original pastor of CCPC and was a great ‘recruiter’.

Dee loved playing volleyball with her fellow CCPC ladies – the Night Owls. They took first place in the interfaith league for 18 of 20 years, only losing to Sally Sweet and “the Methodists” on 2 occasions. After their wins, the Owls would celebrate at the Bowie Inn!

At CCPC, Dee taught Sunday School for 18 years, taught Vacation Bible School, was an elder, a deacon and a member of her cherished New Hope Circle (she often jokingly referred to it as the ‘No Hope’ Circle). She loved the Holly Ball where she and Don would dance the night away!

Dee joined the staff at CCPC as a Pastoral Assistant where she called on or visited church members who were sick, hospitalized, homebound, or anyone who could use a little of her special kind of encouraging attention. She wrote the most thoughtful cards and notes and you knew she sincerely meant every word!

Dee and Don loved to travel and enjoyed many wonderful adventures. They joined other church friends to visit Oberammergau and see the Passion Play on one of its 10 year cycles. They toured China, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Iceland and cruised to Alaska, the Caribbean and England/Sweden/Norway/Russia.

Spending time with family has always been a highest priority for Dee and Don. They loved to take the four kids and visit relatives in Ocean City, New Jersey and Deep Creek Lake, Maryland as often as possible. Family trips have also included Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Glacier National Parks. Dee and Don celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii and then again to Kauai some years later for Steve and Jen’s wedding. They visited Kim and Eric in Louisiana.

Dee loved reading, collecting owls, writing in her journals (inspired by Gordon Ebersole), dancing, traveling, and playing cards. She was crafty and created the best bulletin boards you’ve ever seen. But, most of all, she loved her family and friends, especially those from CCPC.

Some of her favorite places included Washington DC at Cherry Blossom time, Quiet Waters Park, Brighton Dam azalea gardens, Robinette family reunions, Annapolis and, of course, Deep Creek Lake.

Just before her retirement in 2006, Dee began to show signs of memory issues, even though she tried her best to hide it. In 2018 she fell in her home, needing surgery and rehabilitation at Crofton Care and Rehabilitation Center. Unfortunately, she was unable to return home and spent the remainder of her days in long term care at Crofton. Dee passed away, peacefully, in her sleep on Monday of this week.

She will be laid to rest in a private, family ceremony in Oakland, Maryland. We invite all family and friends to join us for a Celebration of Life to be scheduled in the next couple of months at CCPC. Please refer to the Christian Community Presbyterian Church Facebook page for details.

She is survived by her beloved husband of more than 61 years, Donald; two daughters (Kathy (husband Dennis) and Kim (husband Eric)); two sons (Steve (wife Jennifer) and David (wife Kathryn)); ten grandchildren; one aunt, two sisters and many nieces and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Sonny.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation, in her honor, to the CCPC Memorial Garden, or to an Alzheimer’s or dementia organization.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the McCarty family.