Roll Call Tribute

Michael Vincent McCarthy 

May 19, 1954 - December 24, 2025 

Michael Vincent McCarthy, 71, of McAllen, TX shuffled off this mortal coil, peacefully at home, on December 24, 2025, after a 4 year battle with cancer.

Mr. McCarthy was born in Harlingen, TX on May 19, 1954 to James A. & Anna Marie McCarthy. He graduated from Rio Hondo High School in 1972 and ventured on to Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He quickly decided he was not a fan of the sand or the snow and transferred to Texas A&M University in College Station after only 3 semesters. He graduated from his beloved school with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1977. In July of the same year he married Mary Beth Atkinson of Cut ‘N Shoot, TX at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church in San Benito, TX. They moved into his grandmother’s former home in Rio Hondo and began their lives together.

Michael first worked for McCarthy Farms before being hired by Glen Roney at McAllen State Bank. Banking quickly became not just a job, but a passion that he pursued with excellence for 35 years. He never lost his love for the land, even though farming was not his profession. Michael would often spend his weekends in his backyard making sure it was perfectly manicured. He also harbored a love for classic automobiles, often traveling to car shows and museums all over the state. One of his many talents was being able to identify any vehicle by make, model, & year at any time, even in cartoons.

Michael was known for his sharp sardonic sense of humor and was always armed with a witty quip or quote. He also had a knack for remembering what his mother would call useless trivia, and was quick with historical references or anecdotes. He had a deep love for the Rio Grande Valley - the people, the weather, the culture, everything. One of his many passions was the economic growth of the RGV, which he was an integral part of in the 90’s.

Most of all, Michael will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, & wisdom. He would often spot young families at restaurants and would pay for their meals, noting how he remembered how hard that stage of life was. He gave blood so often, he developed a knot above his vein that prevented him from donating anymore. Many people would reach out to him for advice, including his seven siblings who dubbed him “The Guiding Light.” Michael was a great banker, but he was an expert in people.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents James A. & Anna Marie, his step mother Judith, his grandson Myron Joshua McCarthy, his older brother Matthew, and his nephew Adam Schmid. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Beth, his daughter Catherine (Jonathan) Kamenicky and their eight children, Asher, Ayden, Teagan, McCarthy, Inara, Danger, Keelin, and Octavia, his sons Michael Colin (Hope) and their son Adriel, Dallas Conor (Elsa) and their four children Eily, Ailish, Cross, and Kiera. He is also survived by six of his brothers and sisters, Marguerite (life long partner Sam Stith), Mary Adele (Roger Harms), Marietta (Kenneth Schmid), Mark (Wanda), Melinda Thompson and Mitchell (Cindy), numerous nieces and nephews, his lifelong friends Billy Mack Simpson & Frank Tieman, and countless others.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 1, 2026 from 5pm-7pm at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen, followed by a rosary from 7pm-8pm. The funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, followed by the interment at 2:00pm at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.