John "J" Charles McCarthy

John “J.” Charles McCarthy Jr., 77, of Olympia, WA, passed away peacefully from cancer on August 16, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on February 21, 1949, in Seattle, WA and lived in Olympia, WA; Philadelphia, PA; Keystone, CO; and Smith Cove, AK. He attended Saint Martin’s University in Olympia, where he was involved in many pranks, according to his stories. Ever the entrepreneur, he held multiple jobs in a number of fields, including golf, real estate development, logging, road building, homebuilding, home loans, and brush cutting. He was a past president of Olympia Master Builders and spoke fondly of his many business associates. Toward the end of his career, he particularly enjoyed mentoring young employees.

He loved athletics; he was a scratch golfer who worked as an assistant pro at Tumwater Valley Golf Club and was later an early member of Indian Summer Golf and Country Club. He played basketball and was on the Ski Patrol at Crystal Mountain in his youth. He was also a talented racquetball player and enjoyed watching cycling, football, and both men’s and women’s soccer.

J. loved to spend quality time with his family and dogs, whether at home in Olympia or at his favorite Washington getaways. He shared his passion for the outdoors, cars/machines, music, and athletics with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara McCarthy; their children Molly McCarthy (Max Stevens), Lindy McCarthy (Drew Persoon), Rory McCarthy (Nicki Hutchison), and Carly McCarthy; grandchild Kyla McCarthy; bonus grandchildren Kaitlyn Hutchison and Ethan Hutchison; and siblings Maureen Mello and Julia McCarthy. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dan McCarthy, and his parents, John and Frances McCarthy.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Providence at Home Foundation—Olympia.