Edward M. McCreary Jr.

A bouncing, blue-eyed baby boy was born to Dorothy L. (Robohn) and Edward M. McCreary, Sr. in San Antonio, TX while Ed was serving in the Army. After Ed's tour of duty, they returned back to their home in Emporia, KS where they continued to live through Edward Jr.'s life.

Ed was very active during his years in the Emporia school system. He enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, and especially football during those years. His Grandmother and Grandfather Robohn owned a cabin and boat on Lake Kahola just west of Emporia where he and other family members made wonderful memories having picnics, water skiing, etc. together. Ed graduated from Emporia High School in 1963.

Ed joined the Kansas Army National Guard in 1963, went through basic training, and spent many weekends participating in their duties. He worked in several stores and eventually worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as a baggageman and crew caller. However, because of the Viet Nam War, Ed was called to active duty and was required to report to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, CO in April 1968 along with several other of his National Guard comrades. He, along with his buddies, were not excited about uprooting their roots to come to Colorado. However, his viewpoint changed drastically when he went out dancing one evening early January 1969 and met Janice. They started dating and he quickly fell in love with the love of his life. Ed wasted no time. He asked Janice (Stohler) Ball to marry him and she became his wife on March 20, 1969. Ed stated many times how thankful to God he was for bringing him to Colorado Springs and bringing he and Jan together where they lived and had a wonderful marriage for 53+ years. He was discharged from the Army on June 2, 1969.

Ed worked for a couple of finance offices in Colorado Springs for the first few years of their marriage, but decided he really wanted to work at a credit union. He applied for the position of Loan Officer at Air Academy Federal Credit Union in 1977 and was accepted. He very much enjoyed his job with the credit union. He liked the people he worked with, as well as meeting the members and getting to know them. Most of the members liked getting to know him and when he could help them he found it very rewarding. Many members felt so comfortable with him they would ask to see him when they needed something. He had been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy as well as several other health issues several years prior to him finally taking a disability retirement in September 2005 as he was having a very difficult time performing his required duties.

Ed and Jan almost always made it a point to take at least a two week vacation somewhere every year. Ed was a very caring and loving family man through and through and liked to do various things especially with family and friends. When the kids were young, he enjoyed stopping in a hotel in the evening and going swimming with the kids wherever it may be. Ed and Jan took one very special trip on their 25th anniversary--a cruise to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Otherwise, their trips were to different places in the United States. The one place they enjoyed the most in their later years was Branson, MO. They had timeshare condos and greatly enjoyed taking different family members and spending time with them.

Ed always had a very strong faith in God and his teachings—enjoying participating in Bible Studies in his later years. He had a couple of serious health issues--Muscular Dystrophy (MD) and Trigeminal Neuralgia. The MD caused him to be immobile during the later years of his life and the Trigeminal Neuralgia he had surgery for many years ago, but it started to come back during the last couple years of his life. Almost everyone who knew him commented on what a good attitude he always had. Many was the times when someone would talk to him regarding his good attitude, he would normally reply—oh, I am fortunate, when I look around, there are many people worse off than me. He was most always very patient when he asked someone to do something for him and very gracious and appreciative to whomever completed the task requested.

Ed is survived by his wife, Janice, his son, Sean McCreary (Lacie), and his daughter, Suzanne McCreary, and two granddaughters, Brandi McCreary and Brittany McCreary-Hodge (Kristopher Hodge), and three great grandchildren, Nathaniel Thibodeau, Abigail Thibodeau, and Aiden McCreary, his brother Phillip McCreary (Mary) and many cousins and their families.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Edward McCreary, Sr., his brother Curtis McCreary (Ann), grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives and friends.

Ed had fallen the end of 2017 and was unable to get back up to stand on his legs again. It was with heavy heart for him, his family, and everyone that he needed to go into Assisted Living from that time on. Even through that he maintained a wonderful attitude and made the best of life that was possible.

Ed's family would like to thank the Director and all of the staff at the Palisades at Broadmoor Park where he spent the last few years of his life. In his last hours, New Century Hospice also contributed to his care and his family would like to thank them as well.

Ed's memorial service will be on October 4, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Memorial Gardens Chapel, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs, CO. Ed was always very patriotic and was well known by family and friends to wear patriotic T-shirts during the summer months. Therefore, the family has decided Ed would enjoy anyone coming to his service to dress casually and wear patriotic or Bronco attire if they so desire.