Patrick “Pat” Donald McArty, 85, of Great Falls passed away peacefully on July 1, 2026. He was surrounded by love in the weeks leading up to his death and was with family at the time of his passing.
Pat was the first-born of the late Cap and Kay McArty on March 29, 1941. He attended Billings Central H.S. and joined the U.S. Navy upon graduation. Pat proudly served in the U.S. Navy aboard submarines to include the USS Thomas Edison, the USS Guardfish, and the USS John Adams; and as an Intelligence Officer. During his tenure, he served as the Commander for Submarine Flotilla II out of New London, Connecticut, Submarine Forces Atlantic out of Norfolk, Virginia, and Naval Forces Vietnam. He traveled the world from stations in France and Belgium, the Guam Marianas Islands, and Santiago, Chile. He retired from his final post in Charleston, South Carolina, as a Senior Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service. Pat went on to complete his associate degree at Northern Virginia Community College in 1983 and received his Bachelor in Science from George Mason University in 1985.
In Santiago, Chile, while assigned to the Defense Attaché Office there, he met the love of his life, Elsyrah, to whom he was married for 52 years. Pat was deeply devoted to his wife and did everything with the goal of her happiness. He and Elsy traveled the world together and finally settled in Great Falls, Montana. They continued to travel, exploring throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Western United States, and into every corner of Montana itself. A long drive was a favorite past time, and Pat never stopped exploring this world.
Wherever Pat went, he was well liked and respected by those in the community. He enjoyed hosting family and friends for gatherings, especially cooking for them and sharing stories with them. He loved reading Louis L’Amour and other western novels, books on world history, and books which celebrated and deepened his Catholic faith. He was quick with the dad jokes and silly pranks, always finding entertainment in the little things. He liked giving (unsolicited) advice (lovingly, but firmly). He enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger years and encouraged his daughters and family to pick up his love of fishing as well. He enjoyed volunteering in his neighborhood HOA and is remembered as having a watchful eye and new ideas to improve the neighborhood.
Above all, Pat was very proud of his wife and daughters and he loved them very much. Pat is survived by his wife Elsyrah McArty, his daughters Katharine McArty, Bernadette McArty, and Renee Nelson; his grandchildren James Mayer, Lynn Schares, Michael Mayer, Laura Mayer, and Karrik Nelson; and his great grand-children Spencer Schares and Blaine Mayer; as well as his brother John McArty and his sister, Mary Zeeck. Pat is
preceded in death by his father Cap McArty (1980), Mother Kay McArty (2009), brothers James McArty (1977) and Thomas McArty (1985), sister Donna Hein (2020), and step- son Jaime McMurray (1989).
Pat was strong in his Catholic faith, and he was ready to go home to his Lord. His regular parting advice for family and friends when closing a phone call or saying goodbye was always the same: “Be good and go to church.”
Funeral and services will be held at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Great Falls, where Pat was a long-time member, on July 16 at Noon, with a reception immediately to follow. Pat loved flowers and he loved making donations to both his church and St. Vincent de Paul.
