James Ansley McCarty

1926 - 2016

James Ansley McCarty, 90, passed away in Lodi, California on Monday, December 19, 2016. James was born in Taft, CA on June 9, 1926 and was raised on the McCarty Ranch in Corona, CA. He attended UC Berkeley for one year and at 17 enlisted in the Navy and flew on a seaplane throughout the Pacific Ocean in support of our servicemen during World War II. In 1950, he graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Animal Sciences and became a UC farm advisor in San Joaquin County for seven years. In 1957, he arrived in Lodi and started the Milk Stop Creamery. By 1970, he and his brothers opened Town and Country Liquors in Lodi and Lockeford. He and his devoted wife Mary opened up the Chopping Block, Mac's Pizza and Cherokee Liquors.
James was active in Lodi and San Joaquin County governance starting in 1961. He was a member of the City of Lodi Planning Commission, Lodi City Council and was Mayor of Lodi 1981-82. Later, he contributed his expertise to San Joaquin County governing commissions.
James now is with Mary Shannon his wife of 57 years and his infant daughter Sharon Rose. He is survived by his children Maureen Drawbert and son-in-law Richard and her four children Michele, Kevin, Susan and Jennifer; Tim and daughter-in-law Gretchen and his daughter Genevieve; Joel and daughter-in-law Beth and his three children Megan, Brian, and David; Patricia Bone and son-in-law Steve and their five children Matthew, Stephen, Christopher, Andrew and Amanda; and Kathleen Salvestrin and son-in-law Steve and their three children Kaitlin, Kara and John. He has four great grandchildren Andrew, Jackson, William and Poppy Marie. He is survived by his brother Robert and wife Judy McCarty of Lodi and his brother Terry and wife Sharon McCarty as well as many loving nieces and nephews. He now joins his mother Margariete, biological father James Gray, his adopted father William Glenn McCarty, brother William, sister Johanna, his much-loved cousin Margo Payne and his Grandmother "Nana" Hansen.
A graveside remembrance will be held at Harmony Grove Church/St Joachim Cemetery,11455 Locke Rd, Lockeford, CA, 95237 on Tuesday, December 27th at 11 am.
Afterwards, please join us to celebrate James' life at The Woman's Club of Lodi, 325 West Pine Street, Lodi, CA. Please be ready to share your best stories. Donations can be made in James' honor to Lodi Veteran's http://www.vfw.org/find-a-post?state=CA&city=lodi or Hospice San Joaquin. https://www.hospicesj.org