George McCroskey Sr.

George Alfred McCroskey Sr. passed from this life March 6, 2007. He was 97. Mr. McCroskey was preceded by his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou (Weatherford); his brother, Lane; and by both of his parents, James Arthur and Edith McCain McCroskey. He is survived by a sister, Edith Marshall; his children, Alfred McCroskey Jr. and Harriet Lane (McCroskey) Bratcher, and an adopted daughter, Mary Lynn Cohen; six grandchildren; and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at Spry Serenity Chapel in Florence on Sunday, March 11. Visitation at 2 p.m., with service immediately following at 3 p.m. The Rev. Randy Thompson officiating, and the Rev. Daniel Scott assisting.

Pallbearers will be Mark McCroskey, David McCroskey, Ray Bratcher, Charlie Yates, Horace Kimbrough and Terry Malone. Honorary pallbearers, Dr. Chip Simpson, Charles Housman, Dr. Darrell Russell and Arnold Briglia.

Mr. McCroskey has been a resident of Florence since 1919, when his family moved here from Memphis. A graduate of Coffee High School and a student at the University of Tennessee during the Great Depression, he worked first on the two federal programs, CCC and WPA. He was an employee at TVA for 42 years.

Always an ardent patriot, Alfred McCroskey served his country and community in the Boy Scouts of America, Alabama State Guard, National Guard, U.S. Army during World War II and later in the Naval Reserve and the American Legion.

McCroskey was active in Presbyterian churches as deacon, Sunday school teacher and elder for more than 60 years at First Presbyterian Churches, of Florence and Tuscumbia.

The family wishes to express a heart-felt thanks to the staff of Southern Care Hospice, especially to his caregivers, Rose Lane and Dot Phillips.

He and his family have requested no flowers. Instead, any memorials sent to Bibles For Russia Inc., P.O. Box 69, Florence, AL 35631, will be used to "plant" a church somewhere in Russia in a town or village where presently there is no church.