Bill McCray passed away peacefully at his home the evening of January 9, 2019. He was 86 years old. Bill was born in Hereford, MO on February 2, 1932 to Joe B. McCray (1912-1989) and Martha Sebastian McCray (1914-2014). Bill married Jo Ann Holmes McCray on July 11, 1953.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years Jo Ann; two sons Dan McCray (Judy Routt) of Columbia, Mark McCray (Astrid von Ehren) of Austin, Texas, and four grandchildren; Chris McCray of Columbia, Mo; Erin McCray of Washington, D.C. Megan McCray of Dallas, Texas, and Blake McCray of Austin, Texas; one sister Loretta Cleveland of Fulton, MO; Sister in law Dolores Holmes McCray of Columbia, MO; brothers in law Clifford Holmes of Columbia, MO and Dennis Holmes of Lexington, KY .
Bill proudly served in the US Army as Corporal (Reserve 1951 – 1954); and in Korea as a Specialist 5 (Active duty 1954-1955) and was honorably discharged in 1959. Bill graduated from Fulton High School in 1951 and the University of Missouri on June 6, 1958 with a BS in Agriculture. He founded McCray Builders in 1958, a home building and construction company that recently celebrated its 60th year of continuous operation. Bill was past President of the Columbia Home Builders Association and past Secretary of the Home Builders Association of Missouri. Bill was an avid sportsman and conservationist. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and being outdoors, competing in bass tournaments around the region, and competing in the Missouri State Senior Games medaling in sporting clays numerous years. He enjoyed his time in retirement with many hobbies and visiting friends and family in central Missouri and in Englewood, FL where he and Jo Ann spent the winter months. Bill had a positive impact on the development of Columbia and touched so many people in the community through his professional life, willingness to help people, and many life-long personal friendships.
A visitation will take place 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Memorial Funeral Home with funeral services to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial, with full military honors will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial Donations in honor of Bill McCray may be made to: Central Missouri Honor Flight, 1400 Forum Blvd., Ste. 7-A, Box 334
Columbia, MO 65203, http://centralmissourihonorflight.com/donate/ Or a charity of your choice.
