William E. McCreery Jr.

1930 - 2014

William E. McCreery Jr. , 83 a resident of Arlington died peacefully Thursday February 13, 2014 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center following a long illness.
Bill was born in Richmond, VA on March 16, 1930, he was the son of William E. and Blanche (Maschmeyer) McCreery Sr. He received his education in Pawtucket (RI) where he graduated Pawtucket East High School, he did his post-graduate at Mt. Herman in Northfield.
Bill enlisted in the US Army in 1948 where he served for 5 years, this came at the time of the Korean War, he received the Korean Service Medal with 3 oak clusters, the Bronze Star with a V,and the Combat Infantry Badge, he was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in 1953. Following the military, he continued his education graduating from Columbia University. He then began a career in wholesale home furnishings where he worked from Administrator to President and owner of his own company, retiring successfully in 1994. He married his first wife Jacqueline Knowles Luria on December 18, 1967, she died July 19, 1972.
Throughout his life Bill loved golf and played most of his life, he enjoyed sports and participated in, baseball, basketball, track, swimming and skiing. He also had a lifelong love of fishing, especially on the Battenkill and enjoyed spending time with his family. He was an inspiration and loving step dad to his family. He will be remembered as a man who was polite, practiced his manners and was always nice.
He leaves his wife Mary J. Pratt McCreery whom he married March 20, 1998, step son Bruce Luria of Tulsa, OK, stepdaughter Marcia Nordstrom of Nashville, sister Peggy Sue and husband Frank Broadbent of Brunswick, ME , three step grandchildren and one step grandchild.
In honor of Bill's love of fishing, graveside services with military honors will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery on the first day of fishing on April 12, 2014 at a time to be determined.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Vermont Veterans Home-Patient Activity Fund in care of Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 528, Arlington, VT 05250.
To send condolences, visit http://www.sheafuneralhomes.com.