Donnie V. McCarthey

Donnie Vernon McCarthy, age 86, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, November 11, 2024 in Mustang, Oklahoma.

Donnie lived in Tuttle most of his life. Donnie was a veteran and served in the Army National

Guard. He worked for The Daily Oklahoman for 37 years retiring in 1993. As a typesetter, he

developed the unique skill of reading upside down and backwards better than most people can

read regular print. As typesetting was phased out and new technologies took over, he retired

and concentrated on farming, raising winning show pigs and steers along with a commercial

angus cattle herd on farms in Tuttle and Amber. He had a natural gift for knowing how to put an

animal together and sold hundreds of show pigs to kids all over the state, usually keeping the

best back for his grandkids. His farrowing house and feeding floor were always in use by

others constantly trying to produce the next Grand Champion. That practice continues today.

Donnie loved production agriculture, but his true passion was his grandkids. Lovingly called

PaPa, they were the center of his world. Whether it was a stock show or sporting event, Donnie

never missed the opportunity to brag on Kaylee, Zac, or Kallie. When they were not playing

sports or showing livestock, there were motorhome adventures every summer where he would

drive to Highway 37 and ask the grand kids, “What direction?” They would continue in that

direction until they hit a coast or border, then make their way back across the country to Tuttle.

If they weren’t traveling America in the motorhome, it would be at Fort Cobb Lake running

juglines, riding the seadoo, or tubing behind the pontoon boat. Donnie was happiest when his

grandkids were having fun.

Donnie is survived by his wife of 65 years Janell; daughter Kelly Brunson and husband Jay; grandchildren Kaylee Pollock and husband Cody; Zac Brunson; and Kallie Brunson; great grandchildren Stratson Brunson and Cooper Pollock; son Donald "Smokey" McCarthey and wife Patti; their children- granddaughter London Gordon and Husband Mac and their children Gracie and Hattie, granddaughter Megan Atchley and husband Joel and their children Aiden, Easton, Cooper, and Ava; sister DeVota Bowers; brother Larry McCarthey; sister Judy Shields, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents Lucille and Henry McCarthey.