The Peru Gazette

McCarty Memorial Bench

L-R Ann and John McCarty, Karen and Bob McCarty, Jim McCarty

The Lions and McCarty family members who were present to honor Marge and Jim

By John T. Ryan

Peru – On Sunday, July 3rd,  the Peru Lions Club dedicated the “McCarty Memorial Bench” at Heyworth-Mason Park.  The bench honors the late Marge and Jim McCarty for their long, dedicated service to the Peru Lions Club and the Peru community.  Members of the McCarty family were present to witness the dedication.

Current Lions Club President Ed Eisele delivered the following remarks.

It is fitting and proper that we are gathered here today for the dedication of the Jim & Marge McCarty memorial bench. Both Jim & Marge gave unselfishly to the Lions locally and throughout the entire Lions 20W district. They participated in virtually every Lions club activity.

The Peru Lions Club’s first female member, Marge’s duties included many club chair positions and committee seats. In addition, she was secretary, treasurer, president, board member, and she was the first female District Governor in 20W. She also served as district secretary under her husband Jim’s District Governor tenure. 

Jim’s service also included a wide variety of club positions, including all that Marge accomplished but specifically as co-chair with Larry Ewald of the Peru Lions Club -John P Adams Memorial Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot for 20+ years. Jim, too was a District Governor. Together, he and Marge logged many miles and countless hours as they visited all the clubs in 20W, a huge district encompassing all the clubs between Champlain, Ticonderoga and Watertown. 

So, I’m here to remind everyone that Marge and Jim McCarty embodied the Lion’s Club motto: “We Serve.”