Wanda Juanita McCrackin

Wanda Juanita (Nita) McCrackin, age 84, passed away November 15, 2016, at Brookdale Assisted living in Lakewood, Colorado. She was born March 28, 1932 to Earl C. and Marguerite (Westcott) Williams on the family farm near Kidder, Missouri. Juanita grew-up on the rural farm with no running water or electricity. She was educated in a one room school house where 8 grades were taught by one teacher. Juanita was an accomplished horse woman, riding to school at age 6. She graduated from Kidder High School with a senior class of three. She had hoped to stay home on the farm and train horses, but her dad had different ideas and she went to Business School in St. Joseph, Missouri that fall.

On November 11, 1953 Juanita married Marvin R. McCrackin at the first Methodist Church in Independence, Missouri. In March of 1954 they moved to Golden, Colorado to start their life adventure. In November of 1954 Marvin and Juanita bought a house in Lakewood where she lived until June of 2016. On July 15, 1956, Daniel Wayne McCrackin was born in Denver. Marvin and Juanita divorced in 1972.

Juanita worked for the federal government most of her working life. She started with the Selective Service Office in Missouri after graduating from business school and started at the Civil Service Commission once they moved to Colorado. She worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for over 30 years, retiring in 1988.

Juanita loved to travel. As a young family, Juanita and Marvin packed-up the Suburban and took family trips to California, the Four Corners – Mesa Verde area, and around Colorado to camp. After retirement Juanita made two trips to Hawaii to see the islands. Horses remained a lifelong passion for Juanita, along with watching the Denver Broncos and driving through the mountains to see the fall colors.

Juanita is survived by her son Daniel McCrackin and his wife Jacque of Laramie, Wyoming, and grandchildren, Kali McCrackin Goodenough of Laramie, Wyoming, and Sean McCrackin of Boise, Idaho.

Memorial Service will be held at Olinger Woods Chapel, 1100 Washington Ave, Golden, CO from 12 to 1 PM, November 22, 2016. Burial will be at 2 PM at Evergreen Memorial Park, 26624 N. Turkey Creek Rd. Evergreen, CO 80439 [email protected]

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Woods Chapel, Golden, CO.