Marian L. “Skip” McCarthy, 90 years old, of Atchison, Kansas, died Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care.

Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, July 31, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Benedict’s Church with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A parish rosary will be recited on Sunday, July 30th at 3:00 P.M. at Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with visitation with the family will follow until 5:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Benedict’s Abbey and St. Benedict Parish and may be left in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.arensbergpruett.com.

Born in Kansas City, MO on October 6, 1926, Skip was the only child of Mildred (Rau) and Francis Hays. She grew up in Kansas City attending St. James Elementary school and St. Agnes Academy. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with high honors from St Mary’s College in Leavenworth, KS.

Skip worked for Standard Oil in Kansas City before marrying Dennis McCarthy of Springfield, IL on February 3, 1951. They moved to Atchison, KS in 1956 when Dennis was hired to establish the Art Department at (then) St. Benedict’s College. Skip worked at Fred Stein Laboratories and Lincoln Grain (Elders Grain) in Atchison for many years. She volunteered for several years at St Benedict’s parish and parochial school activities, and was a lifetime member of both the Atchison Library Association and the Atchison Hospital Auxiliary. Skip served as Secretary -Treasurer of the Atchison Board of Trade for fourteen years. She was a member of St. Benedicts Parish and an Oblate of St. Benedict’s Abbey.

Together with her husband Dennis, she helped to found the Atchison Art Association and establish the annual River Bend Art Fair. Dennis preceded Skip in death on May 31, 2006

Skip was a member of the Red Hat Society, loved playing bridge and was an avid reader. Her Christmas-themed needlework has been a perennial feature at the Atchison Oktoberfest.

Skip is survived by her five children: Dennis (Janet) McCarthy of Kansas City, MO; Nancy (Colin) Cohen of Southlake, TX; Dr. Aine (Peter Leahy) McCarthy of Colleyville, TX; Shannon McCarthy of Atchison; Kerry (Mark Sandman) McCarthy of Leavenworth, KS; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And her little dog Samantha who is now in foster care.