Official Obituary of
Beatrice "Bea" McCarthy
April 17, 1935 ~ August 8, 2016 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Beatrice McCarthy Obituary
Senator Beatrice (Bea) Cecelia McCarthy
Beatrice (Bea) Cecelia McCarthy was born April 17, 1935 in Geyser, Montana. When she was five her parents Robert and Rose (Krier) McKenna moved from the family ranch in Geyser to Bozeman so Robert could work on agriculture policy for Montana farmers and ranchers. Bea attended Holy Rosary Catholic Schools and graduated from Montana State College (MSU) with a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education. Bea was proud of her Montana roots, proud of being raised at "the ranch" and proud to live and raise her family in Anaconda.
Bea married Ed McCarthy June 27, 1959 and together they raised five children on Ogden Street in a place affectionately called "Leprechaun Village". Bea and Ed hosted guests for 40 years at their annual St. Patrick's Open House for the community.
Bea was a pioneer her entire life. She started teaching in 1957 retiring in 2000. In 1983 Bea began a second career when she was appointed by Governor Ted Schwinden to the Montana Board of Regents. In 1991, the people of Anaconda and Philipsburg areas elected her to the Montana House of Representatives and she was re-elected in 1993. In 1995, Bea was elected to the Montana State Senate, the first woman from the area to serve in that capacity. During her Senate tenure Bea was a member of the executive board of Council of State Governments-West, National Council of State Legislatures, one of only two Montanans to have that honor. Bea chaired the Environmental Quality Council and was a founding member of the Legislative Council on River Governance, a forum of five western states.
Bea retired from the Montana Legislature in 2005 and was hired as a lobbyist for Northwestern Energy. She was part of the group responsible for bringing the power facility to Anaconda. Bea retired again in 2009 and began serving as president of the Montana Retired Teachers for the next five years. She volunteered at many events throughout her life in the Anaconda Community such as Art in the Park, blood drives, the Anaconda Food Bank as well as events sponsored by the Ancient Order of the Hibernians.
During retirement Bea and Ed traveled to many cities in the United States as well as Ireland, Italy, England, France, and Japan. She enjoyed time with her grandchildren and earlier this summer started planning adventure to take them all to Ireland! She was a hard core MSU Bobcat and New York Mets fan always saying "wait ‘til next year"! Besides reading multiple books at a time and working puzzles, Bea took up quilting and leaves the closet full of beautiful quilts for friends and family. Bea enjoyed traveling with the AOH Bagpipers, gardening and spending time with "the ladies". She had special groups of friends who would get together and solve all the problems of the day. These ladies stuck together through thick and thin. She especially loved it when they stopped in to the Old Works where Pete and his crew would serve them up a great lunch.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lyle, Don, and Francis, sisters Ann Theresa and Helen, her husband Ed and her son John. Bea is survived by her brother Maurice McKenna (Terri), daughters Colleen (Larry), Mary (Mike Lacroix), sons Ed (Donna), and Pat (Michele). Bea is also survived by her grandchildren Katy Riley, Britni Riley, Triston Spehar, Kasey McCarthy, Connor McCarthy, Kodie Gadley, Amy (Doug) Loughry, Brad (Jasmine) Woodward, Eric Woodward, great grandchildren Kylee, Nyah, Peyton Woodward and Bryna Loughry as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Bea loved life and loved enjoying it with her life partner Ed. Bea had a tremendous inner strength and religious faith that allowed her to persevere and remain positive under tough circumstances. She will be remembered by her family and friends for living life with dignity and grace.
The Celebration of Life for Bea will take place in Anaconda at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 beginning at 9:30 a.m. with visitation, 10:00 a.m. with the Rosary and Mass at 10:30 a.m. Bea's family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Anaconda Hospital Foundation, the Believe Sorini Strong Foundation both located at 401 W. Pennsylvania Anaconda, MT 59711 or a charity of donor's choice. Arrangements by Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home at www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com.
"Children are the rainbow of life, but grandchildren are the pot of gold"
"May the Road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, and May God hold you in the Palm of his hand".
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Beatrice (Bea) Cecelia McCarthy was born April 17, 1935 in Geyser, Montana. When she was five her parents Robert and Rose (Krier) McKenna moved from the family ranch in Geyser to Bozeman so Robert could work on agriculture policy for Montana farmers and ranchers. Bea attended Holy Rosary Catholic Schools and graduated from Montana State College (MSU) with a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education. Bea was proud of her Montana roots, proud of being raised at "the ranch" and proud to live and raise her family in Anaconda.
Bea married Ed McCarthy June 27, 1959 and together they raised five children on Ogden Street in a place affectionately called "Leprechaun Village". Bea and Ed hosted guests for 40 years at their annual St. Patrick's Open House for the community.
Bea was a pioneer her entire life. She started teaching in 1957 retiring in 2000. In 1983 Bea began a second career when she was appointed by Governor Ted Schwinden to the Montana Board of Regents. In 1991, the people of Anaconda and Philipsburg areas elected her to the Montana House of Representatives and she was re-elected in 1993. In 1995, Bea was elected to the Montana State Senate, the first woman from the area to serve in that capacity. During her Senate tenure Bea was a member of the executive board of Council of State Governments-West, National Council of State Legislatures, one of only two Montanans to have that honor. Bea chaired the Environmental Quality Council and was a founding member of the Legislative Council on River Governance, a forum of five western states.
Bea retired from the Montana Legislature in 2005 and was hired as a lobbyist for Northwestern Energy. She was part of the group responsible for bringing the power facility to Anaconda. Bea retired again in 2009 and began serving as president of the Montana Retired Teachers for the next five years. She volunteered at many events throughout her life in the Anaconda Community such as Art in the Park, blood drives, the Anaconda Food Bank as well as events sponsored by the Ancient Order of the Hibernians.
During retirement Bea and Ed traveled to many cities in the United States as well as Ireland, Italy, England, France, and Japan. She enjoyed time with her grandchildren and earlier this summer started planning adventure to take them all to Ireland! She was a hard core MSU Bobcat and New York Mets fan always saying "wait ‘til next year"! Besides reading multiple books at a time and working puzzles, Bea took up quilting and leaves the closet full of beautiful quilts for friends and family. Bea enjoyed traveling with the AOH Bagpipers, gardening and spending time with "the ladies". She had special groups of friends who would get together and solve all the problems of the day. These ladies stuck together through thick and thin. She especially loved it when they stopped in to the Old Works where Pete and his crew would serve them up a great lunch.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lyle, Don, and Francis, sisters Ann Theresa and Helen, her husband Ed and her son John. Bea is survived by her brother Maurice McKenna (Terri), daughters Colleen (Larry), Mary (Mike Lacroix), sons Ed (Donna), and Pat (Michele). Bea is also survived by her grandchildren Katy Riley, Britni Riley, Triston Spehar, Kasey McCarthy, Connor McCarthy, Kodie Gadley, Amy (Doug) Loughry, Brad (Jasmine) Woodward, Eric Woodward, great grandchildren Kylee, Nyah, Peyton Woodward and Bryna Loughry as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Bea loved life and loved enjoying it with her life partner Ed. Bea had a tremendous inner strength and religious faith that allowed her to persevere and remain positive under tough circumstances. She will be remembered by her family and friends for living life with dignity and grace.
The Celebration of Life for Bea will take place in Anaconda at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 beginning at 9:30 a.m. with visitation, 10:00 a.m. with the Rosary and Mass at 10:30 a.m. Bea's family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Anaconda Hospital Foundation, the Believe Sorini Strong Foundation both located at 401 W. Pennsylvania Anaconda, MT 59711 or a charity of donor's choice. Arrangements by Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home at www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com.
"Children are the rainbow of life, but grandchildren are the pot of gold"
"May the Road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, and May God hold you in the Palm of his hand".
Visitation
SEP 6. 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM (MDT)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Rosary
SEP 6. 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM (MDT)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
Mass of Christian Burial
SEP 6. 10:30 AM (MDT)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
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