Darlene McCarty

Darlene McCarty of Plymouth, MN passed away at the age of 100 on December 6, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Minnetonka, MN. Darlene Verell Glass was born on July 26, 1924 in Polk County, MN and grew up in Crookston, MN. A graduate of Bemidji State University, she taught high school English and speech in various places in Minnesota, also helping put on class plays. She met her husband John (“Jack”), a fellow teacher, in Brainerd and married him in Crookston on August 20, 1955. They lived in Richfield, MN when they were first married, starting a family while Jack went to graduate school. In 1959 they built a house in Plymouth, MN, where they raised 3 children. Retired from teaching, Darlene worked part time in the office at church, caring for friends’ children and later at Jack’s advertising business. They visited Jack’s mother and relatives in Phillips, Wisconsin frequently and took family driving vacations every summer.

Everyone loved Darlene. Family and the people in her life were what brought her joy. Known for her kindness, thoughtfulness, humor and radiantly beautiful smile, she formed special and lasting relationships everywhere she went. Always interested in others and their stories, she would sit and visit with a friend or relative for hours. Her mother-in-law once said, “I always feel better after I’ve talked to Darlene,” and everyone felt that way. People sought her out when they needed to talk about something or just wanted to visit, because she listened and was always fun to talk to and gave wise advice.

When she was young she enjoyed train trips to places like Banff with friends made while teaching, and shopping and trying on hats with her sister-in-law Kathy, a dear friend. She loved spending time with family. Two of her greatest joys were her granddaughter Erin and grandson Alex. She enjoyed playing with them when they were young, birthday parties and holiday get-togethers, the park, beach, zoo, apple orchards, trolley and boat rides, train shows, outlet malls, Mall of America, Minnesota Twins games, trips to Las Vegas and sightseeing when Erin was growing up there, road trips to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, trips to visit her niece in Chicago and other relatives, seeing her favorite band the Eagles in concert, and going to her favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden.

Crazy about clothes and shoes and purses when she was teaching, she loved jewelry, especially bracelets, and had a big collection ranging from vintage items to handmade pieces bought at art shows in later years from an artist she became friends with. She spent many happy hours ironing. When she sat down with a newspaper, she would read it thoroughly, absorbed. A smart lady with a wicked sense of humor, one of her favorite sayings was, “You can’t fix stupid.” Every summer she got a red geranium for the step and planted petunias and marigolds, which she cared for diligently.

Darlene always remembered people on special occasions with carefully chosen cards and beautifully wrapped gifts, and made her own tags and gift bags with cutouts from greeting cards and stickers. Creative, she sewed when she was young and loved fabric and buttons, making things in her own original designs. She also liked a good garage or rummage sale, antique and thrift shops, craft shows and boutiques. At that shop or sale, she was probably looking at an interesting chair or accent table that she could paint, a shelf, a table runner or a picture frame. At art shows, she joked that she was more interested in the frames than the art, and had a knack for framing family photos and collage frames. When she was young, she collected salt and pepper shakers. Everyone was always on the lookout for the white hobnail milk glass and Spode Christmas Tree dinnerware that she collected, or adding to her collection of vintage teacups and saucers, plates, teapots, Willow Tree Angels and wood signs with sayings like “Thankful” and “Blessed.” All of this was beautifully arranged in her home along with the photos of the people who mattered most to her.

“Love Joy Peace” was a favorite phrase that Darlene wrote on her Christmas cards every year. She lived her life with joy and brought so much happiness to everyone who knew her. We had her for 100 years and it still just wasn’t long enough. She was the heart of her family and will be dearly missed by her sons Mark McCarty and Michael (Nancy) McCarty; daughter Mary McCarty; granddaughter Erin (Jason) McCarty; grandson Alex McCarty and great-granddaughter Goldie Gentry. She is also survived by her nieces Stephanie (John) Glass and Margi (Alan) Miller, nephews Jim (Penny) Glass and Bill (John) Glass and their families; cousins Elwood and Phyllis Olson and their children Linda, Steven and Carol and their families; cousins Evelyn Glass, Kathy Olson and Sharon Olson; special friend Julie Anderson, and many other friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Edward McCarty, father and mother Ralph and Vera Glass, brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Kathleen Condon Glass, and other relatives. Visitation at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday June 27, 2025 at David Lee Funeral Home in Wayzata, MN. Visitation at 11:00 a.m. and funeral service at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday June 28, 2025 at Heindel-Nimsgern Funeral Home in Phillips, WI, followed by a graveside service at Lakeside II Cemetery and a lunch. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, a place that was very special to her.