Mary Grace McCarty

Mary Grace Thompson McCarty, of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, from complications due to Alzheimer’s at St. James Place, where she had resided for many years. She was surrounded by the family she so deeply loved. Grace was born on November 2, 1928, in Marion, a small town in north Louisiana, in Union Parish. She was the second daughter born to Kleber S. Thompson and Margaret E. Thompson. She never lost her love for the community of her birth and delighted in visiting family and friends there through the years and in sharing stories of her upbringing with her children and grandchildren. While in college at Louisiana Tech she met and married Marvin R. McCarty, known to all as “Sleepy”. They married on July 23, 1948, and were wed for 41 years until his death in 1989. When they settled in Baton Rouge in 1955, Grace devoted herself to her daughters and husband and becoming an active part of the Baton Rouge community. She was a member of First United Methodist Church where she served as President of the United Methodist Women and was a member of the Chancel Choir for many years. She was also a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, the Junior League of Baton Rouge, and the Baton Rouge Country Club where she served as President of the Women’s Golf Association, the Revelers Dance Club, and her book club. She loved to garden, play golf and tennis, travel, and gather friends and family around her table to share with everyone her wonderful food, lively conversation, bright laughter, and abundant love. She cherished her time with her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; family was her passion. Though her long battle with Alzheimer’s limited participation in many of the activities she had so enjoyed, she never lost her gift of hospitality or her great love for her family. She was a gracious, generous, and loving woman to the end. Grace is survived by her two daughters, SuSu Rosenthal of Baton Rouge and Kathy Drake and son-in-law Ken Drake of Greenville, SC. She is also survived by her grandsons Mark Sam Rosenthal of Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY, and his partner, Leslie Jager, and Scott Rosenthal and his wife Mia Rosenthal of Philadelphia, PA, granddaughters Maggie Holmes and her husband Spencer Holmes of Greenville, SC, and Mary Elizabeth Drake of New York, NY. In addition, she is survived by great-grandchildren Kirby Rosenthal and Marion Rosenthal, and Evelyn Holmes and Audrey Holmes. Grace was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sister, Pat Thompson Brooks, son-in-law Robert M. Rosenthal, and beloved aunts and uncles. Our family would like to thank the staff of St. James Place for the many years of sweet care they gave to Grace - thank you for loving Miss Gracie. Also, many thanks go to Hospice of Baton Rouge for their care and guidance during Grace’s final months. Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd. in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, January 19, at 11:30 with services at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or Hospice of Baton Rouge, 3600 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.