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She was the oldest of four children and was born in Johnson City, Tenn. and raised in Pensacola, Fla. As a teenager, she moved to Scotland with her family, and then returned to Florida to receive a B.A. in Fine Arts at Eckerd College.
During her college years, she spent time living and studying art in Florence, Italy, Brussels, Belgium and Holland. McCarthy worked as a graphic designer until 1988, when she devoted herself to raising a family and being active in her local community and church.
In recent years, she achieved a certificate in botanical illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens, served as president of PEO Chapter H Connecticut and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport.
She was predeceased by her father, William Blackwood; and brother, Charles Blackwood.
McCarthy is survived by her husband, Dennis McCarthy; son, Michael McCarthy; daughter, Allison McCarthy and granddaughter, Ella McCarthy of Long Island City, N.Y.; her mother, Mary Blackwood of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; sister, Ann Blackwood of Annandale, Va.; and sister, Susan Reynolds and husband, Hal Reynolds of Concord, Calif.
A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport.
Memorial gifts in her name can be made to either World Vision or The Nature Conservancy.
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