Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

decision was made to move to Memphis. Pat had changed his major to Accounting, so, it was necessary for him to transfer to Memphis State University to complete requirements for a B.S. in Business Administration. When re-locating toMemphis in 1964, Bankie could not find a teaching job, so she became employed at the Highland branch of the public library. However, it wasn’t long until she was called to teach Special Education at Bellevue Junior High. Their first child, Charles Patrick III, arrived in 1965. He was followed four years later by another son, John Hudson; a year later, daughter Mary Banks (“Sissy”) joined the family. Pat had passed his CPA examination and was employed by a local accounting firm. While managing family life, Bankie took a leave from teaching but worked part-time for Happi-Hands–a fun job! In 1978, the McCarty family moved back to Helena where Bankie taught at Desoto Academy, and Pat practiced private accounting. In 1983, Pat accepted a job as Chief Financial Officer for a company in Osceola, Arkansas, and the family remained there for 20 years. The McCartys will be remembered in Osceola for introducing soccer! During this time, all three children were graduating from high school and college. While Pat worked in accounting, Bankie taught English and Adult Education, which included administering the GED test. In 2000, both Pat and Bankie retired, and they moved back to Memphis. In 2002, Pat was diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland. Following surgery, he began long and extensive treatments. Today, while Pat is fortunate to have survived, he is experiencing the results of that treatment and must maintain nutrition with PEG intervention. He is doing well and remains active. Prior to moving to Kirby Pines, Pat and Bankie enjoyed many wonderful cruises, trips to Europe, Canada and Kauai. Pat was an avid hunter of game in his younger years and was always a sports fan. Bankie loves antiques, collecting cookbooks and recipes, doing handcrafts and cross-stitching. Both have good reason to be big fans of Arkansas Razorbacks! For 25 years they have been members of Second Presbyterian Church where Pat is an Elder Emeritus. Both continue in Bible studies there. Since moving to Kirby, Pat enjoys bridge, Saturday morning Men’s Christian Fellowship, and he and Bankie enjoy the yoga classes, Garden Gro’ers, Vespers and the wide variety of entertainment provided. “When we moved here,” remembers Bankie, “we did not know anyone, but God directed us here. The last three years have been a happy time in our lives as we have made many new friends. We found Kirby Pines to be a community of faith where we feel we belong.” The McCarty family includes not only three educated and well- established children who are close by, but they are also “blessed” to have seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren with two more on the way. A legacy to be admired! Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines The Pinecone | August 2025 • 7 • Pat and Bankie McCarty are in the unique position of having three other family members join them as residents of Kirby Pines. Since moving to Kirby in 2022, the McCartys have welcomed two of Pat’s sisters, Judy Deshaies and Kate Foster, and her husband, Charlie. According to Bankie, “We have the pleasure of our natural family as well as our Kirby family!” Self-described as “Delta River Rats,” the McCartys have always lived in towns on the Mississippi River. On a personal note, Pat and Bankie have always been “the one and only” for each other. How unique is that? Mary BanksWood and Charles PatrickMcCarty, Jr., were born in Helena, Arkansas, in 1942. When Bankie was 13, her father died, and her mother moved with Bankie and her two siblings to live with their grandfather. This placed Bankie near the same street as Pat and his four younger siblings –which meant that not only did they attend the same schools, there were always occasions for contact in church and community activities. As teenage years occurred, swimming, baseball, fishing and water skiing were high priority. In earlier years, the town of Helena, Arkansas, was an idyllic, small town. It was unique in that it prided itself on having many dances. So, everyone was expected to be proficient in dance. When they were in the eighth grade, Pat and Bankie enrolled in a dance class. They both fell in love with dancing, and according to Bankie, “That’s when we took ‘a liking’ to each other.” However, after eighth grade, Pat enrolled in St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. When asked about the school, Pat replied, “I liked it very much; I made many good friends there.’’ According to Pat, he was teased about his southern accent and told, “You’re the only person we know who makes the word ‘red’ into four syllables!” Although separated for five years, Pat and Bankie continued their courtship during summers and holidays. At Helena Central High School, Bankie was a cheerleader, played in the band and took music lessons. Graduating in 1960, she enrolled in Southwestern (now Rhodes) College in Memphis; Pat enrolled in Vanderbilt University to study pre-med. After two years of separation, as well as a desire to changemajors, both decided to transfer to theUniversity of Arkansas in Fayetteville. They married in 1963 while remaining in school. Bankie wanted to eventually teach, so she majored in education, earning a B.S. in Education in 1964. Following her graduation, the A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR THE AGES Resident Spotlight: Pat & Bankie McCarty Wedding Day 1963