Susan McCarty

Susan Arliene McCarty, age 71, of Benton, passed away at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Texas.

Susan’s wishes are to be cremated.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Greg Shelton officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Susan was born on December 31, 1951, in Harrisburg, Illinois; the daughter of Bertis Diefenbach and Joyce Arliene (Barger) Diefenbach. In 1968, she married Richard McCarty, and he preceded her in death on December 27, 2007.

She formerly worked for Learn and Play School and the Benton Bakery. She was also busy helping raise her grandsons.

She along with her mother attended Glory Bound Tabernacle of West Frankfort.

Susan enjoyed hiking, NASCAR races, where she enjoyed rooting for her favorite driver Joey Logano in the #22 Ford. She also enjoyed attending Benton Ranger basketball and football games and she was an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan.

She was a proud blood donor of the American Red Cross. Her family said she was proud to have donated just one-pint shy of twenty gallons of blood over her lifetime.

Her proudest accomplishment was shared with her love of spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Surviving are her three loving daughters: Wendy (McCarty) Neal and husband Thomas J. of Whittington, IL, Heather McCarty-Smith and husband David Chad Smith of Dexter, MO, Melinda (McCarty) Shaw of Energy, IL; her mother Joyce Arliene Diefenbach of Benton, IL; grandchildren: Andrew Neal of Benton, IL, Noah Shaw of Goodlettsville, TN, Isaiah Shaw of Benton, IL, Luke Shaw of Whittington, IL, Aleaha Joyce Downs of Whittington, IL; a brother Tony Diefenbach and wife Anita of Macedonia, IL; also surviving is her mother-in-law Marjorie McCarty of Logan, IL, sister-in-law Holly McCord and husband David of West Frankfort, IL; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and her husband; father-in-law James “Ike” McCarty.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, or you can plant a tree in memory of Susan.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Susan, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

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