Billie Ray McCreary

BILLIE RAY MCCREARY Billie Ray "Bill" McCreary, 93, passed away peacefully in Kansas City, MO, on December 4, 2025. A longtime grocer and former Representative for Kansas's 80th District, Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved family, travel, music, and dancing. Born in Joplin, MO, to Carl and Grace Pearl (Isbell) McCreary on April 28, 1932, Bill was the youngest of ten children: Nellie, Pearl, Mildred Kuder, Fern Howerton, Orlean Gates, Tracy, Emmett, Virgil, and his twin, Lillie Mae Edwards. A 1950 Joplin High School graduate, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952. He studied Russian at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, and was assigned to the Security Service in Germany. A paratrooper with 21 jumps, he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1956. That same year, he married Natalie Ann "Tommy" Tom, with whom he shared 55 years and three children. After military service, Bill was hired by Safeway. In 1959, he became the store manager in Ottawa, KS. In 1972, Bill bought a grocery store in Council Grove. In 1975, he relocated to Wellington, where he and his brother Virgil purchased a larger store. He had expanded to three supermarkets when they were sold in 1994. From 1997 to 2006, he represented the 80th District in the Kansas House. He was known for his conservative values and dedication to his constituents. Bill was an active member of the Wellington First Christian Church and an affiliate member of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. He was a past president of the Wellington Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Gideons and Masonic Lodge. He married Rev. Helen Liston in 2013 and moved to Overland Park. After her passing earlier this year, he resided at Colonial Oaks Memory Care. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and wives. Survivors include his children Lisa Wright (John) of Overland Park, Elizabeth Roths (Roger) of Wellington, and Robert (Kathy) of Wichita; seven grandchildrenAmber Warlick (Billy), JD Banks, Berkley Matthews, Micah Matthews (Gigi), Chlo Matthews, Courtney Aungst (Douglas), and Jason Roths (Jessica)and nine great-grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, December 13, at 11 a.m. in the Cornejo Funeral Home Chapel, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, KS, 67152, followed by burial at Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are established with the Wellington Kiwanis Club, Wellington Food Bank, and Kansas City Hospice House.Contributions may be mailed to or left with the funeral home. Join us in remembering Bill by sharing a memory, a photo, or signing his digital tribute wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Cornejo Funeral Home & Crematory.