Sam Mccrary

Maggie Valley, Samuel Edwin McCrary, age 87, passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at Smoky Mountain Health Care. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was the son of the late William Jennings and Lucille Ratcliffe McCrary. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Louise McCrary, who died in 2006, a brother, Ben McCrary of Forest City and an infant brother. He was a World War II naval veteran, serving in Sea Bees in the Pacific Theatre. He retired from Champion International Paper Company with more than 30 years service. He owned Maggie Country Store and was a licensed real estate broker. Sam was extremely dedicated to the Town of Maggie Valley being instrumental in town improvements and the growth and development of the Town of Maggie Valley. He was a member of Dellwood Methodist Church. He is survived by two daughters, Karen Holt and her husband, Richie, and Anita Franklin and her husband, John, all of Waynesville; two sisters, Catherine Jackson and Doris Ward, both of Asheville; a brother, Gardner McCrary, of Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Christopher Holt and wife, Kim, of Asheville, Travis Holt of San Francisco, Jeff Franklin and wife, Gabriela, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Brad Franklin of Los Angeles, Kerri Franklin of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Samantha Franklin of Los Angeles, Jennifer Coggins of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and five great grandchildren, Sofia and Zoe Franklin, Skye Loving, and Adi and Oli Luke; a special friend, Alethea Ross-Carré; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Noon on Thursday, December 23, 2010 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Kitty Crain officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 10:30 until Noon prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sam McCrary Memorial Garden at Parham Park, c/o Town of Maggie Valley, 3897 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751, Hazelwood School Kindergarten, c/o Haywood County Schools Foundation, 1230 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786, or Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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