Mary M. McCrary
Mary Margaret McCrary, 89, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away July 13, 2018. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit (Douglas location) on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 11am. Visitation will be at Langsford Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 from 6 to 8pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit or Kansas City Hospice House.
Mary was born June 16th, 1929 in Gallatin MO. She grew up in the rural community of Nettleton, Missouri and graduated from Hamilton High School. Two years later, she graduated from Christian College in Columbia Missouri and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirkville. She and husband William took their first teaching positions in Mendon, Missouri. A year later, William answered the call into service for the United States Air Force
taking them to California and Texas. After leaving the military, they resumed their careers in education first in their hometown of Hamilton, Missouri and then in Grandview, Missouri. They lived in and contributed to the Grandview community for 40 years. Mary was a strong Christian and long time member of Grandview United Methodist Church. In addition to raising three children, she found great joy and fulfillment in teaching Home Economics at Grandview Junior High School for over 25 years. She was passionate about bringing out the best in each student.
Post-retirement, Mary and her husband moved to Lee’s Summit, Missouri where they joined the Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church. She delighted in making fleece blankets, pillows and more than 30 t-shirt quilts for her grandchildren and others leaving tangible reminders of her generous and caring spirit.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton and Margaret Swaithes and sister Helen Conrad. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Shortess; her husband of 68 years, William McCrary; children Julia Quigley (Mark), Doug McCrary, and Jane Griffin (Glen); grandchildren Laura Francis (Jon), John Quigley (Sabine), Ashley Lenhart (Creed) and Allison Griffin; as well as six great-grandchildren.
Mary was a positive role model providing inspiration and encouragement to all who knew her.