• William (Bill) McCrary

    July 24, 2018

  • William (Bill) McCrary went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Bill was born on November 5, 1929 in Beloit, WI and adopted by Estella Kidd and her husband Bud McCrary at seven weeks old. He was preceded in death by his wife Cleatrice (Cleo) McCrary in 2011.

     

    Bill is survived by one daughter, Linda McCrary Grayson of Berkley, CA; one son, Tracy McCrary (Bonnie) of Naperville, IL and his nieces Rosemary Clemmer of Peoria, IL, Elizabeth Lampkin of Peoria, IL and one sister, Wanda Thorpe of Iowa. His grandchildren include; Darneshia, Michelle, Brandon and Sakai and great grandchildren, Dajea, Jaylen and Marquis. His extended family consists of Elaine Brannon, Ida Cotton, Jake Fisher, Amy Thomason and a host of family and friends.

     

    Bill played professional baseball with the Kansas City, Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League (1946-1948), was inducted into the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame, honored in the Milwaukee wall of fame as well as recognition in many venues for his accomplishments. After baseball, Bill went on to establish his own successful business and retired to Hot Springs Village. He was involved locally on the bowling league, was a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital and was an active member of Village Bible.

     

    His biography, “A Legend Among Us,” was written by Linda Pennington Black and published in 2014.

     

    Services will be held Friday, July 27, 2018, 1:00 p.m. at Village Bible Church in Hot Springs Village, AR.  Arrangements have been entrusted to CedarVale Funeral Home. Guest register at www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com

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  • Comments Below are Approved by Cedarvale Funeral Home before they are displayed.

  • 7 comments

    Mike Dugan

    24 Jul 2018

    A true gentleman and a wonderful credit to the game of baseball.

    Reply

    David Getz, Sr.

    1 Aug 2018

    In 2014, my son, David Getz, Jr. and I took a road trip from Corpus Christi, Texas to Hot Springs Village. My wife and I had the privilege of meeting William McCrary earlier that year, and David also wanted to meet Bill. Bill was gracious enough to invite us into his home, and we spent several hours enjoying Bill's knowledge of baseball history and his stories of personal experiences in the game. Later that week, we took Bill to a Travelers baseball game in Little Rock. The time that we spent with Mr. McCrary is a lasting memory.

    Reply

    Wanisia Dunn

    26 Jul 2018

    Rest well Mr. Bill. Mrs. Cleo and you are together again. I will never forget you.

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    David

    27 Jul 2018

    Bill was a dear friend of many years. May he Rest In Peace

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    David L. Getz

    31 Jul 2018

    My son, David Getz, Jr. is an avid baseball fan who has seen major league baseball in 17 different cities and minor league baseball in many different stadiums at many different levels. When I told David about Bill McCrary, he immediately said that he wanted to meet Bill. My wife and I, who one a home in Hot Springs Village, had already had the pleasure to meet Bill. On a hot summer day in 2014, David and I drove from Corpus Christi, Texas to HSV, seeing an Astros game on the way. On Monday, Bill McCrary was gracious enough to invite us into his home, and we spent several hours enjoying his brilliant memory of baseball history and his stories of his personal experiences in the game. That Wednesday, David and I took Bill to an Arkansas Travelers game in Little Rock. It was a wonderful experience, and a memory that we will always cherish. We admired William McCrary, the gentleman, and we believe that he is now home with God.

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    Tyler

    30 Aug 2018

    Mr. Bill was a very nice man! I enjoyed talking with him and hearing his knowledge. I hope the family can find some comfort from the words at Psalms 147:3 that says; "He is healing the broken hearted ones and is binding up their painful spots." God as the hearer of prayer will comfort you in the days ahead as you remember Mr. Bill. Please take a look at this brief video that gives us hope for the future. https://www.jw.org/en/publications/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODMinistryTools/pub-imv_4_VIDEO

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    Linda Waddell

    3 Oct 2018

    Sincere condolences to the family on the recent loss of your beloved Bill McCrary. I didn't know Bill, but today I "Googled" him. My husband (Ernie Waddell) passed away in Dec. 2017 and I found in his personal items a baseball card of Bill. From reading the comments here, I believe their connection may have been Hot Springs Village where Ernie was a golfing member. It would have been my pleasure to have met Bill "Youngblood" McCrary.

    Reply