Billy Earl McCarty

Billy E. McCarty, 87, of Colorado Springs, CO (formerly of Pine Bluff, AR) passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Greenlee McCarty, his daughter Glenda McCarty Owsley and son-in-law Steve Owsley, all of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by sisters Helen Gibbs of Chesterfield, MO, and Dorothy Markini of Grand Rapids, MI.

He was born on December 15, 1929, near Itta Bena, MS, to John Hugh McCarty and Mary Eva (Miller) McCarty, both deceased. He was the eldest of six children. He was preceded in passing by his brothers Paul, James, and Donald McCarty.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in December of 1946, where he served as an aircraft mechanic in Guam. After three years of service, he attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Following college, he was employed in 1951 by Arkansas Power & Light until his retirement in March of 1993.

He was an avid tennis player and longtime member of Eden Park Country Club. He also enjoyed airplanes and earned his private pilot’s license after his retirement. He was an ordained deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff and also served in that capacity at Southside Baptist Church, also in Pine Bluff.

In 2013, he moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to be near his daughter and was a member of Vista Grande Baptist Church. He will be remembered as a great man of faith who loved God and spending time with his family. In his later years, he enjoyed watching baseball, tennis and Friday Night Fights. He also enjoyed eating out with his family.

A Visitation will be held Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. with funeral service following at 10:30 a.m. at Advantage Chapel of Memories, 829 S. Hancock, Colorado Springs, CO. A private burial will take place afterward at Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Vista Grande Baptist Church, 5680 Stetson Hills Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80917

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of Memories, Colorado Springs, CO.