Michael McCray

Michael McCray
Evansville, Ind.
Michael McCray died on May 14, 2015 after battling Parkinson's Disease for 13 years. He was 81.
Those who knew Mike will remember him as determined, funny and full of life. He practiced law first with his father, the late Herman McCray, at McCray, Clark, Statham and McCray and later as a partner with McCray, Frank, Lavallo and Klinger.
Mike was active in the community having served as president of the Evansville Kennel Club, Evansville Country Club, Indiana Young Lawyers Association, Evansville Bar association, and Broadway Theater League. He was on the board of the Reitz Home and the Evansville Arts Council.
He had a penchant for racing; since the age of 16 he attended the Indianapolis 500, missing only the two years he served in the U.S, Army. Additionally, in the early years of the Evansville Freedom Festival, Mike loved running the hydroplane races for Thunder on the Ohio. He enjoyed golfing, working outdoors and was crazy about his dogs!
Mike spent most of his childhood in Newburgh and attended Bosse High School in Evansville, where he was a member of the class of 1952. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois where he served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After his Army days, he completed law school at Indiana University. Following school, he remained a loyal fan of Indiana University football despite their losses.
Michael is survived by his wife of 47 years, Catherine (LaPlante)' four of his children, Julie King (Tom), of Columbus, Ind., Michael H. McCray (Beth), of Naperville, Ill., Karen Metsker (Damion), of Fullerton, Calif., and Susie Cotter (Paul), of Indianapolis; 13 grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; as well as brother-in-law, Stephen LaPlante (Kathryn), of Evansville; sisters-in-law, Barbara Johnson, of Tucson, Ariz., and Dolores McCray, of Evansville; and five nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his 16 year old son, Doug; brothers, Frank and George McCray; parents, Sarah and Herman McCray; sister-in-law, Barbara Christian; niece, Sarah McCray Hildebrand; and nephew, Robert McCray.
The family would like to thank the Communities of Solarbron, Gentiva Hospice, Deaconess VNA Charlier Hospice Center, and the many friends who have supported Michael through his illness.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2015 at the funeral home with Sister Jennifer Miller, O.S.B., officiating, followed by burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Newburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made to Deaconess VNA Charlier Hospice Center, 610 E. Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47734, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, at michaeljfox.org or by mail to Donation Processing, Michael J Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5041.
Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com