Noyce "Nick" McGarity (1943-2023)
The full obituary for my father Nick, who passed away last summer after a long, epic life!
Noyce “Nick” McGarity passed away on July 31, 2023 in Grapevine, TX after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 80 years young.
He was born on April 23, 1943 in Austin, TX, the second son of Jesse & Margaret McGarity. After their divorce, his mother relocated the family to Kansas City, MO, where Nick graduated from Northeast High School.
While attending William-Jewell College in Liberty, MO, he spied a beautiful woman walking across campus. He told his friends, “I’m going to marry that woman” — and he did, marrying Mary “Mikie” Hamilton in 1966. They moved to Williamsburg, VA, where Nick graduated from the College of William & Mary with his masters in mathematics.
Nick & Mikie's wedding in 1966
Nick worked for IBM for over two decades as a systems engineer, which took his family from Virginia to California, Illinois, and finally Texas. After leaving IBM, he worked for Century 21 real-estate and PrimeCo Communications.
A big sports fan, when he wasn’t watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys, Stars, or Mavericks, Nick enjoyed road-trips to visit family and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. He was also a proud supporter of many charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Grapevine AMBUCS. Nick also contributed to many civic functions, including volunteering for Grapevine’s Grapefest & Main Street Days events; countless CASI-sanctioned chili cook-offs; the Southlake, TX planning & zoning commission; and donating blood for many years. Nick was always the life of the party, had an endless number of friends, and was blessed with the world’s best laugh. His proudest achievements were winning the 1995 men's state chili championship and raising two great sons.
Nick is survived by his son Michael and his children Alexander, William, and Jana of Houston, TX; his son Matthew and his children Zachary and Penelope of McKinney, TX; and his younger brother John and daughter Samantha. He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Margaret and his older brother Robert “Bob”.
Nick and his family over the years
Nick willed his body to science, and his ashes were later scattered at sea. His celebration of life will be held the evening of June 9, 2024 in Grapevine, TX, following the Cowtown CASI chili cook-off. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Grapevine AMBUCS, who work with physical, occupational, and speech therapists to provide adaptive AmTrykes to those that can benefit from the freedom of mobility.
Rest in peace, dad.
