High on Tabby Mountain in Utah on Friday, July 20, 2018, a true Western man, Thomas L. McCarty, decided it was time to start another adventure and so he left to do that. Through his life he mastered telling stories, boxing, raising greyhounds, painting portraits, keeping bars open, managing his workers and keeping his family alert at all times.
Big Papa, as he was known to his grandchildren, learned life from a hardscrabble childhood and then joined the Marines, which set his course for life. He taught his sons how to fight both physically and mentally, how to work and be honest in their lives, and how to care for those around them. His sons say that he was the toughest man they ever knew and he always fought to the end. They all admired and loved him.
His first wife, Joan, died in 2009 after 53 years of marriage. They raised four rambunctious boys and the boys actually lived to tell about it. He married Peggy in 2012, who was with him when he died. They celebrated their life on the mountain every day and enjoyed each other’s company.
Those four rambunctious boys are Bobby (Cindy), Tommy (Pam), Dewayne and Shawn (Michelle). Dewayne will be meeting him on the other side with fishing plans. He inherited Peggy’s two children, John (Ella) and Brenda (Jesse), who love him as much as his sons do. Big Papa had so many grand and great-grandchildren who entertained and cared for him.
Services will be held Thursday, July 26 at Tate Mortuary, 110 S. Main in Tooele and will begin at 1 p.m. with a viewing one hour prior. In lieu of flowers we would like to place a memorial bench in Stansbury Park in memory of Big Tom.
Semper Fi