Funeral services were held Thursday, May 31, for a 16-year-old boy, who drowned in a Stanton lake last weekend.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, they received a report on Friday, May 25, shortly after 9:30 p.m. that James Joseph McCarthy, 16, of DeWitt, was missing at Clifford Lake, in the area of 241 Royal Drive. He was last seen by family about 8 p.m. while preparing to go kayaking. His grandmother called 911, when they couldn’t find him.

After a two-hour search, the teen’s body was discovered in 8 feet of water, about 30 yards offshore. Recovery was made by the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, and the victim was transported by Montcalm County EMS. Also assisting at the scene was  Stanton Fire, the Sheriff’s Posse.

According to his obituary, James is the son of Douglas and Sharon (Strong) McCarthy. James was a sophomore at St. Johns High School and a member of the St. Johns High School Swim Team. It said his favorite place on earth was Clifford Lake, where he spent every weekend in the summer. He loved to swim, fish, boat, kayak and tube.

To read his obituary, go to http://tinyurl.com/7g6pwvy