John Brian McCarthy

With heavy hearts the family of John Brian "Tiny" McCarthy, 61 of Towanda formerly of the Valley area announces his passing.
John passed away very unexpectedly on the morning of Thursday, November 6, 2025, as a patient of the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Towanda Campus.
John was born August 6, 1964, at the Tioga General Hospital in Waverly NY, to the late Robert and Carolyn (House) McCarthy. He was born the sixth of eight children and the youngest son. He graduated from Sayre Area High school with the class of 1983.
John was always a jokester and a kidder right up to the very end, just moments before his unexpected passing. With all his Joking and kidding aside, John gave well over 30 years of service as a member and firefighter with the J.E. Wheelock Hose Co. Milltown followed by Athens Boro Diahoga Hose Company No. 6, serving in multiple positions including captain. During some of this time he was a dual member of the Athens Township Fire Department. He was then a member of Sayre Engine Company No. 1 until health no longer permitted him to continue. John was a member of Greater Valley EMS for an extended period throughout his career. He held membership in the Valley Fireman's Association, Bradford County Fireman's Association, and many others. He attended numerous training courses and classes and earned many certificates over the years that he was very proud of.
Dad was truly in his glory when fighting fires and hanging around the firehouse. Although he was unable to run with emergency services anymore, he was always listening to the scanner, and we all knew he was there in spirit.
Besides Emergency Services, John volunteered as an assistant scoutmaster for his oldest sons Justin and Travis with Boy Scout troop 4009 in Athens twp. While an assistant scoutmaster he obtained his wood badge merit that he was so proud of.
When not giving to the community, John enjoyed spending time with his family. He enjoyed family get-togethers, cooking and teaching his kids how to cook while his health permitted. Fishing with his kids and friends always brought great pleasure, especially off the Athens river bridges. John liked to go sit in front of the bars on Friday and Saturday nights in downtown Sayre and watch people come and go.
John was a loyal Buffalo Bills, New York Yankees, and Penn State fan. He enjoyed watching many older tv shows, such as Adam 12, Grizzly Adams, Hill Street blues, Hogan's Heroes, but especially his all-time favorite Emergency, as well as many older movies. Whenever he heard a bagpipe playing or saw a pipe band, especially the Penn York Highlanders it would brighten his day.
He always enjoyed going for driving excursions with his family, either during the day through the country or spotlighting at night. As kids we were always worried about getting lost. One of his infamous expressions was "just sit back and relax." He would then say "every road leads to somewhere", we thought this was his saying but later found out it was one that his father used but dad added "unless it's a dead end and then turn around and go back to where you started" this expression is now used by his oldest son Justin.
As kids, we would sometimes get upset with dad's frugal ways but now, we look back and they give us a good laugh. These things included putting three or five dollars in the gas tank at a time on a constant basis. When going fishing or on one of our drives, instead of buying individual drinks he would buy just a single gallon of water and some dandy cups for everyone to use. The only Chinese food that we knew existed growing up was shrimp egg rolls with duck sauce, from the Waverly or Sayre Chinese shop.
John "Tiny" was very well known in the community, between his emergency services career and different occupations over the years. There were very few places that you could go (near or far) with him that he didn't know someone.
John was a member of the Independent Baptist Church (IBC) in Towanda.
John worked in different lines of work but was always a hard worker. He was a cook at the Guthrie Inn and would tell a story of cooking for Charlie Daniels at one point. For years, he was employed with Pudgies /Papa G's /Howie's as a delivery driver, pizza maker, and assistant manager. He then went to work with the Sayre borough DPW, Toshiba, Mills Pride, Walmart and the Bradford County Manor until health was no longer permitted.
John was predeceased by his parents Robert in 2018, Carolyn in 2021, his newborn son John Michael McCarthy in 1999 and a sister-in-law Laura McCarthy.
John is survived by his family that meant the world to him. We will miss him and think about him every day. He is survived by his Fiancé Lisa (Flick) Wilber (McCarthy) of Towanda. His children Justin and Jess (Jessie) McCarthy of Orwell Twp., Travis McCarthy of Chemung NY, Brittany McCarthy of Corning NY, Nicholas McCarthy of Chemung NY, and two stepchildren that he thought of as his own Brice Wilber of Sayre Pa, and Ashlynn Wilber of Towanda. He was the loving and funny Poppa to Harper Noel McCarthy.
John is survived by his siblings Dennis and Vickie McCarty, Cathy and Kenny Devine, James (Jimmy) and Cindy McCarthy, Robert (Bobby) and Sandy McCarthy, William (Bill) and Lorraine McCarthy, Lisa and Dave Cole, and Stacy and Spencer Briggs. There are numerous nieces, nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews. Many cousins and friends.
As one final act of his selfless spirit as he lived life, we are proud to say that dad was able to help people in need with donations through the Gift of Life program.
We, the family, would like to thank the staff of the Towanda Memorial Hospital inpatient unit for all the help that you provided to dad during his stays over the last couple of years, especially the effort that you made Thursday morning to keep him with us. We will never forget you. Thank you to the providers with Guthrie EMS and to Paul Urban and all the staff at Lowery-Urban Funeral Home for the care you provided for us and dad.
A Time of Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 11am-1pm at the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home, 225 South Main St., Athens, PA. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home at 1pm with Pastor Ed Newton of Independent Baptist Church and will include members of the Fire departments that John belonged to.
We ask that attendees dress comfortably as dad always wore shorts no matter the weather. Please feel free to wear emergency services' attire as he often did. If you're crazy enough like dad, please feel free to wear shorts.
In lieu of flowers please consider a financial donation to your local fire department in memory of John McCarthy or consider giving your time and volunteering with an emergency services agency or other community organization in John's honor.
For those wishing to sign the E-guestbook, send condolences, or flowers, may do so by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com.
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