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Wanza Lou (Willis) McCrary
Dec 11, 1931 - Jul 11, 2014
©
Roberts Reed Culver Funeral Home
Submitted by Jan Grooms
Wanza Lou Willis was born Dec 11, 1931 in Morton Texas to James Olin and
Pearl Dimple Herndon Willis, the eldest of three girls. She talked about
growing up in the 30s, about how hard times were, about nailing wet sheets
to the windows during dust storms and the families dream of green pastures
then they moved here. With hard work, the family thrived and made Westville
home. Wanza, her mother and her sister, Gwenda all accepted Christ as their
personal savior at Baron Baptist Church during a Missionary led Revival and
were baptized in Baron Creek. Wanza was Salutatorian of the graduation class
of 1949. It was in Westville High School that she met the love of her life,
O.C. McCrary. Westvilles football Coach Bowles and his wife, Faynell were
looking for nice girls for his football boys to date. Wanza was the girl
they picked for the shy farm boy. O.C McCrary and Wanza eventually married
on October 16th 1951.
Wanza finished college while O.C. was stationed overseas with the Navy. The
loss of their first baby and their separation was difficult but strengthened
their commitment to each other. They celebrated 62 years together last
fall.
After O.C.s tour of duty, he started trade school in Okmulgee, OK.
Halliburton hired him immediately out of school and transferred them to
Kansas. Wanza adjusted to the dirt and blowing dust with flashbacks of her
childhood and made Kansas her new home. They found a church that made them
feel welcome and soon found that God had not only gifted Wanza with a great
love for children but also a great talent for teaching them. Thus began her
career in the churches everywhere they transferred. First to McPherson,
Kansas, then to Great Bend, Kansas. She loved the children everywhere she
went and the parents loved her because of her great love for their children.
When O.C. retired from Halliburton they left many friends and a church
family they loved to come back home. Before retiring from preschool work
Wanza Once again found herself working with children in the First Baptist
Church of Westville. As her role in church changed with age, those she
taught are now teaching and her legacy of showing Gods love for children by
loving then continues.
Roz I learned more about teaching children from Wanza than from any
professor I ever had in college Retired School Teacher
Rachel The person who influenced me the most was my preschool teacher, Ms.
Wanza. She always made me feel like I belonged and she cared about me. She
always sang I am happy, I am happy Rachel is here today. High School
graduate
Alan The wind upskirted Wanza crossing from the preschool room to the church
building one Sunday and her response was Thank you God for wind. Farmer
Trisha I stepped on a bug in class one day when Wanza first started teaching
me how to work with preschoolers and she very gently corrected me and said
We don't stomp on Gods creatures, we gently pick them up with a tissue then
release them outside. Im pretty sure this wasnt biblical, Trisha said with a
giggle
Bob Phillip We were neighbor kids and Wanza always invited us to stay the
night on Saturday night with the promise of waffles for breakfast. The only
catch was, we had to go to church with the family on Sunday.
In her retirement, Wanza spent many hours on the front porch swing, singing
to her grandchildren and her great grandchildren and the cookie jar was
always full. All were loved.
She will be missed. Wanza Lou McCrary was called to her heavenly home July 11, 2014.
Preceding her in death were her parents Olin and Dimple Willis, Sister Gwenda Wright, infant daughter, Karen Jean and daughter Lisa Marlene.
She is survived by her devoted husband O.C. McCrary, Daughters: Denise Ghazi
Jahay of Ellinwood, KS. Cheryl Kirk Loren of Peck, KS. And Jana Hammonds of
Westville, OK. Sons: Cliff Carla McCrary of Westville, OK. Scott Amy McCrary
of Rogers, AR. Grandchildren: April Tom Harbaugh, Amnee Jason Brown, Aisha
T.J. Rains, Jessica Richard Lorenc, Ashley Lorenc, McKenzie Hammonds, Joe
Hall, Tracy ShaneDuncan, Tara AaronNoll, Hunter McCrary, Cheyenne McCrary,
Ransom McCrary, Anderson McCrary, Chance McCrary, Ethan McCrary, Jacob
McCrary, Mike Hammonds and wife Marla, Jennifer Hammonds, Scott Hammonds and
Charles R Hammonds. Great grandchildren: Darian Harbaugh, Ashlyn Harbaugh,
Cameron Harbaugh, Jordyn Harbaugh, Zaina Brown, Jonas Rains, Emaline Rains,
Alison Rains, Gillian Lorenc, Sophia Lorenc, Lexi Hall, Brooklyn Duncan,
Brayden Duncan, Brynlee Duncan, Madison Noll.
Surviving also is her sister Joyce Jim Webb of Kingwood, TX, Brother in Law
Frank Wright of Westville, OK, nieces Courtney Webb, Christy Randy Cox,
Frankie Leonard Gifford, nephew ShawnJeanann Wright and great nieces and
nephews she loved like her own.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Downing Cemetery and Ganderville Cemetery
would be deeply appreciated.
Funeral services were held at 10 am on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at the First
Baptist Church, Westville, OK with Bro. Doug Davis officiating.
Interment
followed at Downing Cemetery, Baron, OK under the direction of Roberts Hart
Funeral Home.
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