Ray McCarthy remembered…
June 25, 1921 – May 19, 2010
Ray G. McCarthy, 88, of Denver, Colorado, passed away May 19, 2010 at home in Denver. He was born June 25, 1921 in Kiowa, Colorado, to John Lawrence McCarthy and Ethel Gorton where his family owned a small ranch growing alfalfa and raising various livestock. In 1931, they moved to Smith Hill near Central City, Colorado where they ranched and ran a trucking business hauling coal and other commodities. He maintained his membership with the Gilpin County Cattlemen’s Association.
Ray was a graduate of Gilpin County High School. One story Ray told was the time they decided it was a good idea to lead a donkey through the upstairs back door of the Central City Opera House and let it loose. Ray never said why they did it, but he sure laughed heartily whenever he told the story.
In the early 1940’s, Ray and his brother moved their parents to Denver. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, assigned to the 351st Engineer General Service Regiment, “Charlie” Company. After supporting the war effort in England, the 351st was ordered to the initial landing at Normandy Beach. Due to the breakdown of their transport, Ray’s unit was 24 hours late in arriving, but went right to work establishing supply lines. After participating in the Battle of the Bulge, the 351st continued to rebuild the war torn regions of northern Europe.
When Ray returned home to Colorado in 1945, he attended The Colorado School of Mines and Denver University where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He married Lena Mae Loman on August 29, 1948. Ray and his new bride moved to Ephrata, WA. Here he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation on the Grand Coulee Dam. In 1950, their first daughter Janet was born. They moved to San Francisco when Ray was hired as an engineer for Cisco. In 1952, their second daughter Karen was born and in 1953, Ray and his family moved back to Denver. During that year their son Robert was born.
Ray eventually started working for Sterns Rogers. Then in May of 1971, their daughter LeEtta was born. After several failed attempts with retirement, Ray settled down in 1995 to live the quiet life as husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and good friend… “Umbahgooey.”
Per Ray’s wishes, there will be no public memorial or special services held.