John F. "Johnny" McCrary Jr.

John F. "Johnny" McCrary, Jr., 90, a lifelong resident of Morristown, passed away peacefully at Serenity House on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 with his son and daughter by his side.

He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, serving on various committees and the Administrative Board. He recently attended Economy United Methodist Church.

Johnny was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Graves McCrary; parents, John F. McCrary, Sr. and Pearl Wisecarver McCrary.
He is survived by his children, Diane McCrary of Kingsport and Stephen McCrary of Talbott; brother-in-law, TJ Graves, Jr.; sisters-in-law, Doris Lee Graves and Anne Graves Moore; along with several nieces and nephews.

He was a 1943 graduate of Morristown High School and a 1950 graduate of University of Tennessee with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.

He began his career delivering newspapers for five years during grammar and high school and part-time salesman at Rogers Men's Store. He also played violin in high school and All East Tennessee Orchestra.

After graduating high school, he served in the U.S. Army in WWII during the years of 1943–1946.

He was then a radio announcer and program Director, WCRK in Morristown during the years of 1947–1956.

From 1947 to 1973 he was General Contractor for McCrary Builders. In 1956 he joined Ralph P. Masengill in the Insurance business as which is now known as Masengill McCrary-Gregg Insurance.

In 1959 he organized Jefferson Building and Loan which later became Jefferson Federal Savings and Loan where he served as Director, President, and Chairman of Board.

In 1961 he was a Charter Member of Morristown Association of Realtors, and was also a member of the National Association of Realtors and Tennessee Association of Realtors, was past member and President of Morristown Home Builders Association, past member of Knoxville and National Home Builders Association. In 1974 he purchased half interests in Masengill Real Estate, now known as Century 21 Masengill-McCrary Realtors.

He developed many sub-divisions in Hamblen and surrounding counties where there is a street named for him.

He was a 25-plus years member of the Morristown Lions Club; member and former Director of Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce; member and past president of Board of Trustees at Walter State Community College. In his free time he was an avid collector of antique cars.

The family will receive friends Sunday, Sept. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Economy United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be Monday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. at Economy United Methodist Church with the Rev. Allen Shupe and the Rev. Fred Lehrer officiating.

Interment will follow at Jarnagin Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be special brother-in-law, TJ Graves and many business associates and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Serenity House (1052 Kennedy Circle, Morristown, TN 37813) or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Stetzer Funeral Home, Morristown.


This obituary was originally published in the Citizen Tribune.