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<http://schema.org/description>
"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;David Meredith McCartney, recognizable by the twinkle in his eye and his quick wit, exited stage left on November 6, 2023, at the ripe old age of 78, in his adopted hometown of George West, Texas. Dave, who was born on February 3, 1945, in the town you&#39;ve probably never heard of unless you got lost in Winnfield, Louisiana, was best known for his sharp humor, rock-solid intelligence, and uncanny wisdom, which he claimed came from watching reruns of Jeopardy!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;His wife, Rita “Toots” K. McCartney, was his ultimate favorite wife able to volley his jokes with ease while reminding him to return her books to the library. His beautiful and fabulous daughters, Ginger V. Castor and Christy N. Hines, inherited his funny bone much to their mother&#39;s chagrin. Dave&#39;s face would light up at the mention of his four remarkable and always witty grandkids Garrett M. Laukaitus, Haley K. Wright, Dylan L. Castor, and Braedon N. Castor.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They will miss their grandpa, the human joke machine. One would think that being a Northwestern State University alum and an Air Force veteran, David would be serious. But, adding humor to everything, including his 18-month stint in the Philippines (he loved pancit, lumpia and pulling everyone&#39;s leg), was his modus operandi. After being honorably discharged, he traded warfare for bodyguarding and security in Houston, Texas, where he once jokingly claimed his greatest achievement was telling his daughters that their dog ran away when in fact the dog was rehomed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dave&#39;s humor extended to even his hobbies: ruthless games of solitaire (he was the reigning Solitaire King), passionately tracking down distant relatives, and sampling every variety of chocolate, always with a cold glass of milk on stand-by. He found hilarious excitement in the mundane, watching his favorite old westerns, Yellowstone, Benny Hill, and Jeopardy with his grand-dog Buddy lying by his side, followed by a comedy-commentary on the neighbor&#39;s cows and passing trucks. Westerns, dogs, cows, and trucks - Dave wasn’t picky.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As we part from Dave, we recall the words of Charlie Chaplin: “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Dave&#39;s days were filled with laughter, reflected in his love for his family, his military service, and even his solitary pursuits. He was never one to waste a day, let alone the opportunity for a good punchline.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He is survived by his sister, the ever patient Glenda Groves of Oklahoma, her children Karen, Beth, and Howard. He also had a fabulous brother and sister in law Harry and Sandy DeBusk of Williana, Louisiana who can all attest that Ol Dave was witty and funny. Nieces and nephews, grandkids, wife, children, his chocolate stash, and vast collection of antique coins, all left waiting for another one-liner that would bring them tears of laughter.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Dave’s honor, find a good joke, share it, screw it up, and then laugh at yourself because that&#39;s&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;what Dave would&#39;ve done. Because in life, like in a good joke, the punchline makes all the&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;difference. So, here&#39;s to David Meredith McCartney, the beloved jester who kept us laughing&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;from curtain rise until his final bow.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;"
<https://www.maxwellpdunne.com/obituaries/David-Meredith-Mccartney?obId=29816776>