To know John McCarthy was to love John McCarthy. To summarize his life in a few paragraphs feels nearly impossible, and perhaps a little unfair to a man who lived so fully, impacted so many people, and collected enough stories, adventures, friendships, and shenanigans to fill a book.

John Joseph McCarthy Jr. was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, on May 17, 1946, to Kathleen “Katie” Regan McCarthy and John Joseph “Duck” McCarthy Sr. He passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026, after living a remarkably full and enviable life defined by curiosity, adventure, humor, creativity, and an extraordinary ability to make people feel like they belonged.

Early Years

John was raised in Avon, Montana, alongside his older sisters Jo Ellen and Margaret “Peg,” and was soon joined by his younger brother Tom. His youngest brother, Mike “Mick,” would complete the family after they moved to Helena.

John’s childhood was spent almost entirely outdoors, usually accompanied by the family dog, Archie. After spending nearly two months at Shodair Hospital around age two and a half while recovering from rheumatic fever, John came home angry that his family had left him there and refused to speak to anyone except Archie. During this time, he developed a lifelong fascination with the natural world. Armed with a small notebook and pencil, he would count worms after a rainstorm or try to count the moths circling the arc light outside McCarthy’s Cabins.

Growing up in Avon provided endless opportunities for adventure, and mischief. John rode his toy “bulldozer” around the gravel circle in front of the cabins, attempted to get into Frank Knight’s pasture to visit the calves, learned to shoot a bow and arrows made for him by prospector Shorty Fulsom, and spent countless hours playing make-believe, often as “Bobby Benson of the B Bar B.” He fished the Little Blackfoot, rode the neighbors’ pigs until one eventually ran him forehead-first into a 2x4, and became known as a practical joker. One particularly memorable Fourth of July may or may not have involved fireworks going down a chimney.

He also began working at the Mannix Ranch between Avon and Helmville while still young, returning each summer from junior high through high school to help with haying. Those years helped shape the outdoorsman and wildlife biologist he would become.

High School and College

When Duck and Katie moved the family to Helena, John entered St. Helena Grade School and then Cathedral High School. Helena was where many of his lifelong friendships began, and where he met the love of his life, Nora Anderson.

John graduated from Cathedral in 1964, proudly carrying his “Go Greenies” spirit with him throughout his life. He played football and trumpet in the band, delivered newspapers, and worked various jobs, including setting pins at the local bowling alley. He was especially proud of his newspaper route down the Gulch for Big Dorothy’s. On one newspaper route, he came home with a puppy he had found along the way. After the family heard a series of mysterious animal noises, John finally confessed to bringing the puppy home. Dougly Dog was welcomed into the family.

John’s creativity also began to emerge during these years. He had a natural talent for drawing, woodworking, and designing enameled metal pieces. His curiosity and willingness to try just about anything were already becoming hallmarks of his personality.

But his most important Cathedral connection was Nora. Their friendship became a lifelong love story. John and Nora remained deeply connected to their Cathedral classmates and continued attending Greenie all-school and class reunions throughout the years. In later life, John and Nora hosted weekly cocktail gatherings with fellow graduates and treasured annual get-togethers with a remarkable group of lifelong friends.

After high school, John headed to Montana State University in Bozeman to study wildlife biology. He was a proud member of Sigma Chi and worked for the Montana Department of Transportation during the summers. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree and continued on to complete a master’s degree in wildlife management.

John and Nora were married on May 11, 1968, while he was attending Montana State. They began building their own family, welcoming sons John Kelly in 1968 and Christopher David in 1970. Following the completion of his graduate studies, including a stint in Zortman while writing his thesis, John loaded up the family and moved to Augusta in 1972 to begin what would become a decades-long career with the Montana Department of Fish and Game.

Family and Work Life

In Augusta, John became known affectionately as the “balligist”, a title he would sometimes translate more colorfully as “counting turds” for the big-game animals under his management.

His work as a wildlife management biologist took him deep into the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat wilderness areas and across much of Montana. He rode and packed horses, flew in airplanes and helicopters to count elk, and participated in trapping and research involving elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, black bears, and grizzlies. He used a variety of techniques, including shooting nets, to capture animals for transplantation, research, disease monitoring, and habitat management.

His knowledge of wildlife, particularly bighorn sheep, also took him around the world for professional conferences and opened doors to experiences far beyond Montana. One trip to Italy made such an impression that John briefly considered leaving wildlife management to open an Italian restaurant in Helena.

John took his responsibility seriously. He could be stubborn, and he was never shy about expressing an opinion, but he approached his work with integrity. He cared deeply about the animals and the people affected by wildlife-management decisions and refused to bend his judgment toward any particular special interest. He was proud of his work and the difference it made.

He retired from Fish and Game in 2003 after more than three decades in a career that fit him almost perfectly. His final assignment focused on securing upland-game-bird habitat through partnerships with private landowners.

But John’s greatest accomplishments were never found on a résumé.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He and Nora built a life in Augusta filled with friendships that stretched across generations. John served on the Augusta Public Library Board, tended bar at the Lazy B and Gibson Lodge for a little extra money, and became deeply involved in his sons’ early wrestling careers through the Augusta AAU Club. He helped coach, hosted the annual AAU wrestling talent show, and even sold hot dogs downtown from a camper during the rodeo to raise money for wrestling mats and equipment. John spent years driving to gyms and other venues to support his sons at sporting events and academic celebrations.

John welcomed his daughters-in-law, Dani and Erin, into the family with the same open arms he extended to nearly everyone he met. He also embraced being a grandfather to Seth, Dylan, Kaitlyn, Keyara, Brandon, Kennedy, and Easton. He never demanded that they become anything in particular. Instead, he showed them by example how to be curious, generous, hardworking, loyal, and, most importantly, a good person.

And then there was food.

Of all the ways John shared his love, perhaps none was more joyful than preparing meals for family and friends. The gatherings he and Nora hosted became legendary, not necessarily because the stories would sound unbelievable to those who weren't there, but because of the food, laughter, friendships, and love that filled their home. John understood that a good meal was rarely just about the meal. It was about bringing people together.

Retirement and Hobbies

Retirement did not slow John down. It simply gave him more freedom to pursue the things he loved.

He and Nora spent their early retirement years enjoying Montana—camping in Sun Canyon, floating rivers, ice fishing, hiking, exploring, and spending time with friends and family. Their travels eventually took them to Italy, Ireland, and sailing through the Greek Islands, often in the company of people they loved.

John also discovered new passions. Rockhounding became a favorite pursuit, and he gathered stones from across Montana and Arizona that he would cut, polish, and turn into unique creations. He also returned to the thousands of photographs he had accumulated during his years working in the wilderness. He began sharing his view of Montana through photography, selling his work at art festivals and sidewalk markets around the state.

John and Nora eventually began splitting their time between Montana summers and winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. What began as a six-week winter trip grew into three months, and eventually into ownership of a second home where they spent much of November through April.

In the fall of 2024, after more than 50 years in Augusta, John and Nora moved to Montana City.

John’s final decade was made more difficult by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a disease that gradually affected his movement, balance, vision, and speech. It became increasingly difficult for him to walk and communicate, and those who loved him sometimes had to look past the physical limitations of the disease to find the John they knew.

But John was still there.

He was there in the mischievous look in his eyes. He was there in his laughter. He was there in his determination. And he was there in his hugs—perhaps the best hugs anyone could receive.

It is important to remember John not only for the years when illness made life difficult, but for the years when his eyes were bright, his stride was strong, his mind was curious, and his voice filled a room with laughter and stories. Remember him as the outdoorsman, scientist, artist, sailor, cook, storyteller, practical joker, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who made an ordinary day feel like an adventure.

Most of all, remember the camaraderie he created wherever he went. John had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcome, valued, and loved. He collected exceptional human beings throughout his life, and he considered that collection one of his greatest treasures.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Joseph “Duck” McCarthy Sr. and Kathleen “Katie” McCarthy (Regan), and his sister, Jo Ellen Martin.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nora McCarthy (Anderson); siblings Margaret “Peg” Brantman (Buzz), Tom McCarthy (Kim), and Mike “Mick” McCarthy (Colleen); sons John K. McCarthy (Erin) and Chris McCarthy (Danielle); and grandchildren Seth McCarthy (Anna), Dylan McCarthy, Kaitlyn McCarthy, Keyara McCarthy, Brandon McCarthy, Kennedy Ducharme, and Easton Ducharme. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, hooligans, bums, and an extraordinary band of exceptional human beings who were lucky enough to call John their friend.

Celebration of Life

Friends and family are invited to gather on September 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Delta Colonial Inn in Helena to celebrate John’s life.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a no-host bar will be available for those wishing to raise a glass in John’s memory. In the spirit of the camaraderie John valued so deeply, everyone is encouraged to bring a written note or photograph for a commemorative book that will be given to the family. During the gathering, there will be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to stand and offer a personal reflection, a favorite memory, or—appropriately—a good tale of John’s shenanigans.

Come ready to laugh, remember, tell stories, and raise a glass to a remarkable man.

To know John was to love John. And he loved us right back.