John Tracy McCarthy

John passed away Saturday, January 14th surrounded by his family. He was 95 years old.

John was born in Moorhead, MN to William and Clare (Tracy) McCarthy. The fourth of eight children with brothers, Kevin, Billy, Robert, Donald, Tommy, and sisters, Margaret and Mary. He grew up in Jamestown, ND until he was 16 when the family moved to Vancouver, WA and later Portland, OR. John graduated from Columbia Preparatory High School in 1945 and was drafted into the Army near the end of World War II. After being discharged, he graduated from the University of Portland in 1950. John worked as an insurance claims adjuster until his retirement in 1989. 

John met Alice Luckeroth at the Catholic Chancellor Club. They were married on June 22, 1968 by John’s brother, Father Tom McCarthy. They had five children, Cathy, John Jr, Mike, Margaret, and Tom and enjoyed over 54 years of marriage. 

John loved to golf and regularly played with a group of friends beginning in the 1950s, meeting weekly on Wednesdays and going on many golf trips together. Following his retirement, he began golfing weekdays, most recently at Sah-Hah-Lee. He continued to golf with friends until August 2022. His other interests included card games, crossword puzzles, sudoku puzzles, singing, listening to music, cooking, and the thrill of finding a good deal. He was quick-witted and always ready with a joke or humorous story.

Family was extremely important to John. He hosted family meals on Sundays and all holidays. He went on annual trips with his wife and children including national parks throughout the US, Hawaii, Canada, New York, Washington D.C., Europe (France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and England), and many visits to the Oregon Coast. 

John was a beloved husband and father who made sure that his family was well provided for and that they always knew he would be there to support them. He taught his children humility, to appreciate what they have, to be generous with their time and love, to try new things and never fear failure. He was a man of the highest integrity and a role model who would do anything for anyone he knew. He was kind, gentle, and well-liked by all who knew him, often greeting friends and family with his twinkling eyes and warm smile.

John was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Kevin, Billy, Robert, Fr. Tom and sister, Margaret. John is survived by his wife, Alice; five children, Cathy, John Jr, Mike, Margaret, Tom; brother, Donald of Winnipeg, Canada; sister, Mary Fahlman of Portland, OR and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Charles Catholic Church, located at 5310 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218, on Saturday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. The service will be available on Zoom (link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/98155735623). A private committal service with military honors will be held at Willamette National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul at St. Charles Catholic Church. ttps://www.stcharlespdx.org/give.html