Joe Ellis McCreary

Joe Ellis "Dee" McCreary, age 86, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 9:55 p.m. at Trend Health in Carthage, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, Mississippi. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with interment to take place at Crestview Memorial Gardens, also in Brandon. Officiating the service will be Rev. Bill McCreary and Ryan Merchant.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Merchant, Daniel Merchant, Jeff Wright, Jayce Wright, Patrick Wall, and Austin Langford. Honorary pallbearers include Harold Wright, Kevin Langford, Jason Parkes and Roger Merchant.

Known affectionately as “Dee,” Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a steady presence in an often uncertain world—someone you could always count on for a warm meal, a light-hearted joke, a good story, or simply to show up when you needed him most.

He loved gardening, tuning into talk radio, and gathering family and friends around the table. Family & Friends were especially proud of his cooking—his steaks could rival any steakhouse, his crawfish would leave even the Cajuns envious, and his BBQ shrimp was the stuff of legend.

Joe spent 30 fulfilling years with General Motors, a company to which he remained fiercely loyal. His deep pride in GM sometimes led to playful debates with his children and grandchildren when they dared show up in anything not bearing the GM badge. Yet, like the God he believed in, his love was unwavering and covered all manner of “automotive sins.”

Joe is survived by his children: Teresa Merchant (Roger), Harold Wright (Alison), and Joe M. McCreary (Holly); his son-in-law, Kevin Langford (Terresa Johnson); and his grandchildren: Ryan Merchant (Clair), Daniel Merchant, Nicole Wall (Patrick), Jeff Wright (Chasity), Jayce Wright (Hope), and Austin Langford (Katelyn). He also leaves behind 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Martha Jean McCreary; his parents, Joe Bailey McCreary and Vivian Ellis; his daughter, Lori Langford; his great-grandchild, Micah-Jo Hila Merchant; and his daughter-in-law, Ronda Wright.

Joe “Dee” McCreary lived a life full of love, laughter, loyalty, and service. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.