Grace Margaret Johnson McCarthy

life story

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Grace passed away peacefully on May 19, having recently celebrated her 99th birthday just three weeks before. She was preceded in death by her husband James McCarthy, her parents Henry and Anna Johnson, her sister Beulah (Johnson) Foutz, and her brother Kenneth Johnson. She is survived by her three children, Keith, Peggy, and James; five grandchildren, Brett, Sara, Ian, Lisa, Connor; and three great grandchildren, Sean, Katherine, James.

Grace's Life

Born in St James, Minnesota, Grace attended grade school at the local one room schoolhouse, graduating from high school in 1941.

Grace and her sister, Beulah, moved to the Twin Cities shortly after the start of World War II, contributing to the war effort by working at the Arden Hills munitions factory. It was during this time Grace met James, who was on leave while serving in the U.S. Army, during a well deserved train trip vacation to Canada, culminating in their marriage following the end of World War II in November of 1945.

Throughout their marriage, they lived in Norfolk, VA; St James, MN; Bloomington, MN; St Paul, MN; West St Paul, MN; Brevard, NC; and, New Prague, MN.

As a proud working mother, Grace worked as a long distance operator for Northwestern Bell in St Paul, MN, eventually retiring in the early 80s. During her time in West St Paul, she was active with her son Jim's Cub Scout Troop as a den mother, started writing for the local community paper, which she continued to do so for local publications in Brevard and New Prague.

In Brevard, she was an active hiker and nature lover, volunteering as a story book reader at the local elementary school and the Habitat for Humanity thrift shop. It was here she rediscovered her painting talent, sharing it with her family and close friends.

Moving back to Minnesota in 2002, she shared her love of poetry by publishing a book of her own poetry in 2012, "Seasonings" which is available for free downloading at http://www.lulu.com/shop/grace-mccarthy/seasonings/ebook/product-20117522.html

Loved by all who knew her, Grace will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She will be interred with her husband James at Ft Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota, after a private graveside ceremony on August 9, 2022.

memorial service

August 9, 2022

Fort Snelling National Cemetery 7601 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55450, USA

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services