Mr. George D. McCrary III

George D. McCrary III, of Iris Hill Farm in Bartlett, Tennessee, died October 29, 2009 of complications from pancreatic cancer. Services were November 3 at Bartlett Station Municipal Center. Burial was in Memory Hill Gardens. A long-time resident of Bartlett, during his life George McCrary was son, husband, father, brother, engineer, lawyer, judge and farmer. He is survived by his wife, Judith Hayes McCrary; children, Melanie of Bartlett and Michael and wife, Leigh, of Vicksburg, MS; sister, Nancye McCrary of Willisburg, KY; and brother, Patrick McCrary of Atlanta, GA., along with many, many other family and friends who loved and will miss him dearly. Judge McCrary graduated from the College of Engineering in 1965, and he received his JD degree in 1970, both from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He served his beloved City of Bartlett in many capacities, including City Prosecutor, City Attorney and Municipal Judge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org).

Judge George McCrary's funeral wasn't pretentious. He probably wouldn't have liked that. Dr. John Latimer officiated on Nov. 3 at Bartlett Municipal Station. A eulogy was given by former Bartlett Mayor Ken Fulmer and songs were sung, including Ave Maria, by Linda Childress Beckham. His son Michael read the poen "If" by Rudyard Kipling and said that it was read to him by his father long ago and represented how his father felt about life. His daughter Melanie released doves at his gravesite.

George McCrary; say that name in Bartlett and you get a response. Hard working, funny, honest, ethical are but only a few of the words used to describe his Honorable Judge McCrary. He loved to farm and had a soft spot in his heart for kids and animals. He didn't like drug dealers or wife beaters. Some of these things one could learn about McCrary by simply talking to him, others could be learned by watching him in a courtroom.

McCrary was a one of a kind. There's a story about him delivering a donkey to Judge Marr's house; it may not be true - but it sure is funny. All of his friends have stories to share about him and his sense of humor and kindness.

In this last election he said, "Judy and I have parties at our house during the holidays with lots of people and they are almost all from Bartlett. I consider Bartlett my home town."

Bartlett was definitely his hometown. He had worked for the city since 1974. There aren't many like Judge George McCrary left among us. He was only 66 years old, but he had a work ethic that seened to come from the Depression era. Work was a way of life. Something you did well and enjoyed doing.

We all owe Judge McCrary a debt of gratitude. For he represented Bartlett as he saw it; not drawn on a piece of paper, but as friends helping friends.