Sharon Evers McCRARY

McCRARY, Sharon Evers

Sharon Evers McCrary passed away on June 13, 2014 following a brief illness. She was born on April 13, 1948 in Overton, Texas, to Curtis Lee Evers and Susie Virginia Tucker.

Sharon graduated from Cushing High School, where she was valedictorian of her class, a cheerleader, and yearbook co-editor. Her classmates elected her Miss CHS. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and assisted on a federally funded science project at Texas Tech University while completing her master's studies. She taught marketing, entrepreneurship, child development and family consumer sciences in Vidor, Texas; Maryville, California; and Eanes and Austin Independent School Districts.

Her parents impressed the importance of education upon Sharon and her siblings, who all became teachers. She was Department Chair at McCallum High School and was known for her high standards and creative methods of teaching. She and her students hosted receptions for teachers, raised money for extra curricular activities, and recruited students into the DECA and HECE programs she led. Part of her responsibilities included making several visits each semester to observe her students in their field placements and communicating regularly with their employers and cooperating teachers. Even as she was nearing retirement, she launched a new program for high school students interested in becoming teachers, traveling with them to district competition in the fall. This program allowed students to spend one morning a week in elementary schools, assisting the classroom teachers with instructing young children. Sharon accompanied the students each week to their schools. The administrators and teachers with whom she worked in this capacity commented routinely on how well prepared her students were.

Sharon's dry sense of humor and quick wit will be remembered by her friends and family, as will her keen competitiveness on family 'game nights,' which she usually won. She loved her family deeply and was grateful to be near them in Texas for most of her career.

Reading, cooking, gardening, decorating, traveling and supporting the San Antonio Spurs were among Sharon's interests. She enjoyed many trips with her sister, daughter and niece, to San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Savannah, High Point NC, Galveston, Laredo and the Texas Hill Country. She especially relished those to New York City, Dallas and San Antonio to attend musical theater productions.

Sharon's memory will be honored by her beloved daughter, Laurie McCrary Hanna and husband, Ed Hanna, Lockhart, TX; sister Sandra Field, Longview, TX; and brother, Charles Evers and wife Susie Evers, Carthage, TX; and nieces and nephews Sherry Field and husband Russ Hodes, Russellville, AR; Cap Field, Longview, TX; Chris Evers and wife Sharon Evers, Texarkana, TX, and Dawn Zajicek and husband Randy Zajicek, The Woodlands, TX. Many cousins, second cousins, colleagues and former students will also remember-and miss-Sharon.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, July 11 at 2:30 P.M. in the chapel of First United Methodist Church in Longview, TX. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at Seton Hospital ICU. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Luling Animal Welfare Society, PO Box 653, Luling, TX 78648 or Meals on Wheels and More, 3227 East 5th Street, Austin, TX 78702.