John “Jack” Wiley McCarthy Jr., 75, died on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 in Austin.
He was born on Aug. 26, 1949 in San Francisco, California to John and Estelle McCarthy.
Jack, as he was known, was a light in the lives of all who knew him. He will be remembered for his quick wit, willingness to help those around him and never knowing a stranger. His life on this earth was not always an easy one, but one marked with love, perseverance and faith in God.
Jack grew up in a military household and moved many places throughout his childhood including Utah, Kansas, Washington, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, Japan, Ohio, Montana and Texas. He loved to tell stories about these adventures with his siblings. These stories included his passion for swimming, which actually came from a fear of drowning, but served him well when he became a swim instructor while enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He moved up the ranks, achieving the rank of sergeant during his active duty of two years and was awarded a Marksman Medal.
After his time in the military, he attended Tarrant County Junior College where he learned the trade of welding. He went on to weld professionally as well as creatively for his loved ones. He also taught welding at a community college before moving to Lampasas in the early 1980s. He continued welding locally and at numerous job sites on Fort Hood.
Upon retiring, he was passionate about helping others and volunteered at Rollins Brook Hospital in Lampasas for a number of years.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his sons, Scott and Aaron McCarthy.
Jack is survived by his wife, Wanda Kay of Lampasas; daughters Brandy Peiser (Kenneth) of Lampasas, Allie McCarthy-Walters (John) of Lampasas, and Eleta Sanchez (Tony) of Marble Falls; brothers Patrick “Kelly” McCarthy of Fort Worth, Francis McCarthy (Michele) of Fort Worth, Tom McCarthy (Kay) of Georgetown and David McCarthy (Terrie) of Fort Worth; sisters Kathleen Graham (Richard) of Phoenix, Arizona, Sue Ranalla (Tim) of Anaconda, Montana, and Nancy Baker (Foster) of Denton, Texas; 15 grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Lampasas on May 17 at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Alliance of Mental Health at https://www.namiaustin.org/ donate/.
