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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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