Lewis Rogers McCrary Sr.

1937 - 2025

Lewis Rogers McCrary Sr.

Born: May 14, 1937 | Died: September 14, 2025

Lewis Rogers McCrary, Sr., 88, passed into heaven peacefully at home on September 14, 2025, in Sweetwater, Tennessee-the town he cherished and called home for his entire life. Born on May 14, 1937 to local McCrary Pharmacy owners, Dr. and Mrs. George D. McCrary, II, Lewis and his brother, George, were the first twins ever delivered at Sweetwater Hospital. He attended Baylor school in Chattanooga, graduated from Tennessee Military Institute (TMI) in Sweetwater, and earned a fine arts degree in photography from Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was there he met and married Lydia Truzynski McCrary. Together, they returned to Sweetwater, raised their three children and founded the iconic McCrary Studio and Gallery-a studio that became a cornerstone of Monroe County for almost two decades. His family often still hears that "Lewis did our senior pictures," or "he photographed our wedding, our children, our prom." Beyond being cherished by families, Lewis' portraits received countless awards from professional photography associations (TPPA, PPA) including a national Best of Show.

Eventually, Lewis expanded his craft by joining Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), including X10 and Y12, as a staff photographer. There, he perfected his industrial photography skills though documenting highly classified projects in addition to company portraits and public relations photos. It was common for some of these impressive photographs to appear in national trade journals.

Lewis loved his career as a photographer, often saying that he woke up daily looking forward to going to work. He retired from ORNL, married and dearly loved Katie Vineyard McCrary, and embraced a joyful chapter of life filled with travel, their RV, auctions, friendships, family and fishing. Flyfishing was a particular passion as well as organic gardening and his Christian faith. Lewis' charm, kindness, humor and always positive attitude touched countless lives and he will be greatly missed.

Lewis is preceded in death by his parents, George D. McCrary, Jr and Edith Rogers McCrary, and by his beloved wife, Katie Vineyard McCrary.

He is survived by a loving family including his three children: Danette P. McCrary, Patricia McCrary Lybrook, and Lewis McCrary, Jr (wife, Elizabeth McCrary); three grandchildren: Elizabeth Lybrook Lancaster (husband, Jonathon), Rachel Lybrook Wright (husband, Joshua), and Samantha Nicole McCrary; and one great-grandchild, Lilliana N. McCrary. He is also survived by his twin brother, George D. McCrary, III (wife, Lou McCrary), as well as two wonderful stepchildren, Rusty Vineyard and Penny Vineyard Ratledge.

The family will receive friends at Kyker Funeral Home in Sweetwater on Monday, September 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 23, at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. David Wednt officiating, followed by burial at Westview Cemetery.