BARBARA IRENE MCCARTY

BREWER – Barbara Irene (Merriman) McCarty, 72, daughter of Raymond James Merriman and Irene Adelaide (Kilburn) Merriman Keith, died Oct. 1, 2004, at her home in Brewer. She was born April 21, 1932, in Springfield, Vt. Most of her childhood years she resided in Rye Beach, N.H. She graduated from high school in Portsmouth, N.H., in 1950 and from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt., in 1952. Following graduation, she worked as a research technician at the Cancer Research Institute at Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Mass. She continued as a research technician at the University of California at Los Angeles where she met and married John Edward McCarty on Sept. 3, 1955. They moved to Lawrence, Kan., in 1956 and had their first child in 1959. Later that year they moved to Mankato, Minn., where her husband began working as a chemistry professor. In 1962, their second child was born. Barbara spent many years making a wonderful, nurturing home and volunteering in the schools and community, as well as studying pottery. In 1977, she worked as the assistant editor for the agricultural publication, The Land. She returned to school and received her B.A. in chemistry from Minnesota State University at Mankato. She was a graduate student and graduate assistant in chemistry, also at MSU, and then taught chemistry at the University of Minnesota at Waseca. In 1987, John and Barbara sold their home in Mankato and purchased and restored an historic home in Waldoboro, which she named “Blue Skye Farm.” John continued teaching at Unity College in Unity, and Barbara and her sister, Jane Philbrick, ran a flower business with extensive gardens. She and Jane did the flowers from design to delivery for many weddings, something they truly enjoyed. In 2000, Blue Skye Farm was sold and Barbara and John moved to Kittery and then for a time lived with her sister, Jane, in Newmarket, N.H. In 2004, at their children’s request, they returned to Maine and purchased a home in Brewer where John continued his love of gardening and Barbara continued painting watercolors. Barbara was a member of the American Chemical Society; Minnesota Chromatography Forum; Sigma Zeta, Science Honorary; Sigma Delta Epsilon, Graduate Women in Science and the National Honor Society. She also co-authored numerous scientific papers. Barbara is survived by her husband of 49 years, John McCarty, of Brewer; her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Heinz Sell of Cushing, Maine; her son, James McCarty and his companion, Tamara Crowley, of Glenburn; two granddaughters, Erica Engel and Julia Sell of Cushing; sister, Jane Philbrick of Newmarket, N.H.; brothers, Donald Merriman of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Kurt Merriman of Springfield, Vt.; numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Jean (Merriman) Williams. Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Hall & Davis Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Thomaston. A remembrance service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 9, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Thomaston. In lieu of flowers, the family will be establishing a memorial scholarship fund at Minnesota State University at Mankato. Details are available at the Davis Funeral Home regarding the scholarship fund and the graveside service. They can be contacted at 207-354-6475. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hall & Davis Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Thomaston, ME.