Clarence McCrary Jr.
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Clarence "Clancy" McCrary, Jr., 84, of Pinckneyville, formerly of Du Quoin, passed away at 1:35 P.M., Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 at the Coulterville Care Center at Coulterville.
Clancy was a retired manager for Perry County Farm Bureau. He had also been an insurance agent with Country Companies and had been employed part-time for many years by the Du Quoin State Fair. He was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Bruno's Catholic Church in Pinckneyville and had been a former member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin. He had been the organizer of the Du Quoin Folk Festival, was a hospice volunteer and entertained as Clancy the Clown. He was a Perry County Historian and enjoyed collecting anything and everything including old bottles and fountain pens. His proud moment was hiking the Grand Canyon when he was 66 years old.
He was born Jan. 12, 1926 at Pinckneyville, Ill., the son of Clarence "Hap" and Thelma "Sis" (Vineyard) McCrary.
He married Dolores J. Hemmer on May 14, 1949 at Du Quoin, Ill. and she preceded him in death on March 5, 1992.
He is survived by two sons - Stephen McCrary and wife Suzanne and Kevin McCrary and wife Tina, all of Du Quoin, one daughter - Jane McDaniel and husband Bret of Pinckneyville, his companion of many years - Norma Hicks of Pinckneyville, one sister - Mary O'Neil and husband Cooper of Davis, Ill., five grandchildren - Meagan Feger and husband James of Baldwin, Mo., Scott McCrary and Kate McCrary both of Du Quoin, Keri McDaniel and Chad McDaniel, both of Pinckneyville, two great grandchildren - Abigail Feger and Hannah Feger, sister-in-law - Dora McCrary, two brothers-in-law - Ralph Hemmer and Bruce Summers and many other relatives and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one brother - James "Jay" McCrary, one sister - Martha Keller Miller, two sisters-in-law - Shirley Hemmer and Brenda Summers.
Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin with Fr. Brian Barker officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Du Quoin.
Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin V.F.W. and American Legion.
Friends may make memorials to Luke Memorial Hospice or American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.