Jean McCrory

Mrs. Jean McCrory, beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away on the morning of July 14th, 2010. She was one of Clifford and Hattie Michael’s nine children, born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on February 20, 1924. She grew up on a farm, and, as she would later tell her grandsons, she was always proud of the asparagus she grew with her mother in the garden. In her own quiet way, she would also tell stories about growing up in the depression to instruct her sons and grandsons in fortitude, perseverance and humility. In December of 1942, while war raged, she married Bart M. McCrory. Bart soon left for Europe to fight, and Jean volunteered with the Red Cross—following Bart to his training in Camp Chaffie, Arkansas—to do what she could for her husband and her country. After a few harrowing years, the war ended, and her husband returned home to attend pharmacy school. They were looking for something new, so the young couple headed west in 1952 with all their belongings in an old car—including their three-year-old son Marc. They found work in El Paso, in Mr. Pounds’ pharmacy, but Jean soon missed Michigan’s green trees and grew tired of dust-storms. Mr. Pounds, though, wanted Bart to stay in El Paso, and he gave them the opportunity to start a business. So in 1954 the young couple founded McCrory’s Hacienda Pharmacy, and Jean gave birth to her second son, Gary. Jean soon found that the desert was not so bad. Their business grew through their hard work; their sons grew older. Jean loved to go out dancing with Bart—mostly ballroom and square dancing. When her husband died in 1992, she would shuffle with her reluctant grandsons across the kitchen floor after cotillion. After Bart’s death, Jean continued working, keeping the books by hand in a small room in the back of the pharmacy. She was the backbone of the family. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Church and served the community as a volunteer in numerous organizations. Many things changed when Alzheimer’s hit her in 2000. True, she kept to her habits. You might have seen her lunching at Avila’s, or when she was confined to a wheel chair, sitting quietly in the back of McCrory’s with Sheila Jackson, her dear caregiver. She spoke little in the last few years of her life. But still, in her own quiet way, she provided an example of strength to her family and friends. It was fitting, then, that she passed away peacefully. Although she had forgotten how to speak, everyone knew how thankful she was to her diligent caregivers who helped her with her makeup, hair and jewelry each morning until she passed. Her sons Marc and Gary, Gary’s wife Katie, her grandson Ryan, and her grandson Sean and his wife Anne thank God for Jean’s life and lessons. Her visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home-West with a Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. The honorary pallbearers are Dr. Richard Ponsford, Mr. Don Seagren, Mr. Jim Young, Mr. Rick Mena and Mr. David Abernathy. The McCrory family respectfully requests that, in lieu of flowers, friends send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association; 4687 N. Mesa Suite 200; El Paso, TX 79912. Service entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net