Jeffery "Jeff" David McCarty

Memorial services for Jeff McCarty, 71, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Sat., Dec. 13, 2025 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Don Thomas officiating.  Rob Richards, Gary Robbins, Newt McCarty, Mike Low, Scott Davis, Boyd Evans, Scotty Lee and Don Keneipp and Craig Chapman along with all of his other many friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Jeffery David McCarty, known to virtually everyone as "Jeff," was born May 21, 1954 in Harlingen, TX to the home of Marlene (Lancaster) and David Wells McCarty, and passed from this life on Dec. 4, 2025 in Portales, NM.  Jeff grew up in Clovis, where he played football for the Clovis Wildcats, and graduated in 1972.  Following high school he attended Eastern New Mexico University where he was active in the Sigma Chi fraternity.  In later years he served the fraternity by acting as Treasurer for the Housing Corporation financing the building and purchasing of chapter houses.

After college, he moved to Albuquerque, where he began working in the family business, Mac's Steak In The Rough.  It was while making bank deposits for the restaurant that he became acquainted with Pat Low, an employee of the bank.  They were married on Dec. 3, 1977.  He and Pat eventually had their own branch of the restaurant on San Mateo Blvd.  In 1990, Jeff changed careers temporarily and went to work as a dock man for ABF (Arkansas Best Freight).  In 1995, the family moved to Portales and established McCarty's restaurant.  Jeff worked there daily until 2014 when their son, Josh purchased the business, and Jeff was able to retire.

Jeff loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.  The Jemez Mountains and the Valle Calderas were his favorite spots to go to enjoy God's creation.  He was always a very social person and made many friends.  His family was of supreme importance to him, and he was a devoted grandfather.

He is survived by Pat, his wife of 48 year of their home; his son and daughter-in-law, Josh and Rae McCarty of Portales; his daughter and son-in-law, Shari and Brian Gillingham of Abilene, TX; six grandchildren, Cooper and Callan Morris, Roy and Ruby Gillingham and Jeremy and Rhylee McCarty.  He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as by a brother, Dudley McCarty and a sister, Michelle Lofton.

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