Obituary of John Kenneth McCarty

John Kenneth (Ken) McCarty, 61, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2017, after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Ken was born on November 17, 1955, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, son of Ramona Jane and Robert Joseph McCarty. Ken grew up in Fort Worth. He was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for BBT Capital Management, employed at the Bass Companies for more than 26 years. Prior to that, Ken worked for KPMG accounting firm in the Dallas and New York Operating Offices, as well as the Department of Professional Practice in New York.Ken considered himself extremely blessed to marry the love of his life, Karen, in 1996. He recently joked that getting married at 40 years old, and having two children in the span of a few years, was like driving down the highway at 75 mph and throwing the car into reverse. Though it was a radical change, he considered it the best decision he ever made.Ken cherished his roles as husband and father, and was extremely proud of the young men his sons have grown up to be. Ken loved to travel with his family, making memories on vacations around the world. He was also an avid audiophile and loved to relax by listening to classical music on vinyl and CDs in his listening room.Ken loved the Lord, and he lived out the gospel every day in the way he selflessly cared for others. Though he would have wished to have more time with his family, he did not fear death and was perfectly at peace knowing that before he was born, the Lord had numbered his days.Ken served as an elder at Fort Worth Presbyterian Church (PCA), a Board Member of the Sid Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund, and a Board Member of the PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc.Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Ramona Jane McCarty and mother-in-law, Lynette Gunnell Whitley.He is survived by his wife, Karen Whitley McCarty; sons, David Kenneth McCarty and Stephen John McCarty; father, Robert Joseph McCarty; brothers Robert Joseph McCarty, Jr. and his wife Annette Weiss McCarty, Randall Rory McCarty and Darren Lee McCarty; sister-in-law Jennifer Brockett McCarty; brother-in-law T. Alva Whitley; parents-in-law Thomas A. Whitley and Bonnie C. Whitley; nieces Joy, Grace and Libby; nephews James, Daniel, Brock and John.