Lee "Lesa" Palm McCarty

The family of Lee "Lesa" Palm McCarty RN, age 66 of Clearwater, Florida is saddened to announce Lesa passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Lesa's passing was beautifully peaceful surrounded by immediate family. Just outside her bedroom window we could hear birds singing, chimes delicately ringing, and see an abundance of butterflies in her garden.

Lesa was born to Ronald and Donna Meinke in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 22, 1956. Lesa is predeceased in death by Ronald and Donna Meinke as well as beloved grandparents, and great-grandparents.

Lesa passed away after a courageous and graceful months-long battle with ALS. Lesa is survived by her sister Deborah Frethem, brother Tim Meinke, children John and Justin Palm, daughter-in-law Andrea Palm, husband Michael McCarty, brother-in-law Craig Frethem, nephews Stephen and Geoffrey Frethem and Geoffrey's wife Amanda Hoffman Frethem, grandnieces Signe and Millie Frethem. Lesa is also survived by beloved stepchildren Christopher McCarty, Adam McCarty and daughter-in-law Ashley McCarty, grandson Riley McCarty, granddaughter Kat McCarty, and Ms. Miranda Gillespie.

To honor Lesa’s memory, we are holding a celebration of her life starting at 4 pm on October 22nd at Sylvan Abby on Sunset Point Road in Clearwater. We invite anyone who knew Lesa to arrive as early as 3pm and reflect with other guests on her wonderful life before the 4pm service. We encourage attendees to wear bright colors as Lesa was always fond of the bright colors of nature's flowers and of course, Christmas.

In life, Lesa was a fiercely devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and award-winning Registered Nurse for forty-six years. Caring for others through so many different life roles was her passion. Lesa loved her butterfly gardens, Christmas season, time spent with family, karaoke, travel, and her genealogical work telling the 'story' behind her family. Her favorite hymn was Amazing Grace which she sang to her boys in utero, and later as babies to calm them. Her favorite verse from Amazing Grace was: 'When we been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun. We have no less days to sing God's praise, then when we first begun'. Lesa was Methodist by faith and our angel here on earth. We were all truly blessed to have known her and loved her.