Obituary for Karen Gail McCrary (McCrary)
Karen Gail McCrary, 69, was called home to the Lord on June 14th, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of a life lived in His service with impact on many. Karen was born on July 1st, 1953, in Luling, TX to Bettie and Wayne McCrary, Sr.
The eldest of five children, Karen was always available to help keep her younger siblings in line as they moved to various areas of the state while Wayne, Sr. worked in the oil industry. Eventually, the family landed back in Luling where Karen finished out the remainder of her school years. In high school Karen was an athlete, a diligent student, and an active participant in any number of extracurricular activities. She played volleyball and basketball, served on the pep squad and student council, was part of the yearbook staff and one act play, and was Miss FTA and Homecoming Queen nominee her senior year just to give a small sampling of the many goings on in her teenage years. Most in keeping with her personality, Karen was voted wittiest in high school in her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Karen graduated from Luling High School in 1971, and her quick wit and love of both reading and writing would prove to be instrumental as she began her career at the Luling Newsboy.
Family was extremely important to Karen. While no one could ever best her in a game of Scrabble, many a loud and boisterous debate happened around the McCrary table while eating a meal or playing dominoes. Karen was a daughter, a sister, and a beloved friend to so many, but perhaps her most important and cherished role was that of aunt. Although Karen never had any children of her own, she loved and spoiled her nieces and nephews as if they were hers, and they loved and adored her equally as much. She was happy to train those little people in the skill of sarcasm and wit, and they provided her with endless entertainment and reasons to chuckle. Times were never more fun than when Aunt Karen was around. Whether it was baking and decorating Christmas cookies, hosting slumber parties, taking dozens upon dozens of candid photos, writing about their latest accomplishments or mischievous shenanigans, as the case may have been, in Karen’s Column, or letting them help stuff papers at the Newsboy, she was an ever-present presence in their lives from the moment they were born, and she carried on that tradition of love and fun with her great nieces and nephews.
Karen left her mark on the City of Luling, not only as its journalistic voice, but as a leader and champion of many civic programs and improvements. Karen was the editor of the Luling Newsboy and Signal from 1980 to her retirement in 2018. She was still covering local news up until the time of her death. She started work at the Luling Newsboy just out of high school, embarking on a career that would last five decades and would enable her to support and champion the community she loved. An avid firefighter, informed reporter and an exemplary model of the community volunteer, Karen was involved in all facets of Luling’s development. Over the years she served dutifully with the Chamber of Commerce, Watermelon Thump Association, Kiwanis Club, Luling Volunteer Fire Department, Luling Stock Show Committee, Luling Oil Museum, Zedler Mill Foundation, Night in Old Luling, Luling Main Street, and the Church of the Annunciation. She covered city and county news and politics as a keen and objective observer and informant. If it was a notable event, Karen would be there, usually with a camera around her neck and would be the first to lend a hand to make sure of success. A true visionary, Karen was instrumental in the planning and execution of many community development exercises and programs. She used the power of the pen as well as good old fashioned elbow grease to advocate for positive change. Through all of this, Karen developed deep and enduring friendships and was always ready to expand the role of “Aunt Karen” to the youngsters of the community.
Karen will be deeply missed by her many friends and family members. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Bettie and Wayne McCrary, Sr. She is survived by her brothers, A.W. McCrary, Jr. and wife, Kathy, of Luling, and Johnny R. McCrary and wife, Darla, of Seguin; sisters Vickie Walker and husband, Dan, of Burns, Kansas, and Bonnie Phillips, and husband, James, of Kingsbury; her nine nieces, three nephews, and 19 great nieces and nephews.
Please join Karen’s family for a Memorial Service Celebrating her life, Saturday, July 1st, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Zedler Mill in Luling.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Luling Oil Museum or the Luling Fire Department.
The eldest of five children, Karen was always available to help keep her younger siblings in line as they moved to various areas of the state while Wayne, Sr. worked in the oil industry. Eventually, the family landed back in Luling where Karen finished out the remainder of her school years. In high school Karen was an athlete, a diligent student, and an active participant in any number of extracurricular activities. She played volleyball and basketball, served on the pep squad and student council, was part of the yearbook staff and one act play, and was Miss FTA and Homecoming Queen nominee her senior year just to give a small sampling of the many goings on in her teenage years. Most in keeping with her personality, Karen was voted wittiest in high school in her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Karen graduated from Luling High School in 1971, and her quick wit and love of both reading and writing would prove to be instrumental as she began her career at the Luling Newsboy.
Family was extremely important to Karen. While no one could ever best her in a game of Scrabble, many a loud and boisterous debate happened around the McCrary table while eating a meal or playing dominoes. Karen was a daughter, a sister, and a beloved friend to so many, but perhaps her most important and cherished role was that of aunt. Although Karen never had any children of her own, she loved and spoiled her nieces and nephews as if they were hers, and they loved and adored her equally as much. She was happy to train those little people in the skill of sarcasm and wit, and they provided her with endless entertainment and reasons to chuckle. Times were never more fun than when Aunt Karen was around. Whether it was baking and decorating Christmas cookies, hosting slumber parties, taking dozens upon dozens of candid photos, writing about their latest accomplishments or mischievous shenanigans, as the case may have been, in Karen’s Column, or letting them help stuff papers at the Newsboy, she was an ever-present presence in their lives from the moment they were born, and she carried on that tradition of love and fun with her great nieces and nephews.
Karen left her mark on the City of Luling, not only as its journalistic voice, but as a leader and champion of many civic programs and improvements. Karen was the editor of the Luling Newsboy and Signal from 1980 to her retirement in 2018. She was still covering local news up until the time of her death. She started work at the Luling Newsboy just out of high school, embarking on a career that would last five decades and would enable her to support and champion the community she loved. An avid firefighter, informed reporter and an exemplary model of the community volunteer, Karen was involved in all facets of Luling’s development. Over the years she served dutifully with the Chamber of Commerce, Watermelon Thump Association, Kiwanis Club, Luling Volunteer Fire Department, Luling Stock Show Committee, Luling Oil Museum, Zedler Mill Foundation, Night in Old Luling, Luling Main Street, and the Church of the Annunciation. She covered city and county news and politics as a keen and objective observer and informant. If it was a notable event, Karen would be there, usually with a camera around her neck and would be the first to lend a hand to make sure of success. A true visionary, Karen was instrumental in the planning and execution of many community development exercises and programs. She used the power of the pen as well as good old fashioned elbow grease to advocate for positive change. Through all of this, Karen developed deep and enduring friendships and was always ready to expand the role of “Aunt Karen” to the youngsters of the community.
Karen will be deeply missed by her many friends and family members. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Bettie and Wayne McCrary, Sr. She is survived by her brothers, A.W. McCrary, Jr. and wife, Kathy, of Luling, and Johnny R. McCrary and wife, Darla, of Seguin; sisters Vickie Walker and husband, Dan, of Burns, Kansas, and Bonnie Phillips, and husband, James, of Kingsbury; her nine nieces, three nephews, and 19 great nieces and nephews.
Please join Karen’s family for a Memorial Service Celebrating her life, Saturday, July 1st, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Zedler Mill in Luling.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Luling Oil Museum or the Luling Fire Department.