Laraine "Tinker" McCray

Laraine “Tinker” McCray, 65, passed away suddenly on April 21st, 2020. To almost everyone who knew her, she was “Tinker,” a name her older brother Mark called her when she came home from the hospital. Because she did, well, what babies do. He meant to call her “Stinker,” something that could well describe her large and endearing personality throughout her life.

Those left to mourn are her husband of 47 years, Gary McCray, daughters Jeny McCray and Krista McCray, honorary children Tomy Verbeck, Kristi and Mike Taylor, Mike and Amy Barnhart, and her honorary grandchildren Dakota Taylor, Jack Taylor, Bailee Barnhart, and Axel Barnhart. She is also survived by her mother Winnie Axe, siblings Greg (Vickie) Axe, Renee (Dave) Likins, Keith (Debbie) Axe, Chris Axe, Colleen (Scott) Loux, half-brother Jerry Steele, sister-in-law Patty Axe, best friend Nancy Potter, and innumerable aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, lake neighbors, friends, classmates, and co-workers.

She is preceded in death by her father Tom Axe and her brother Mark Axe.

Tinker grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where she met Gary. They were married on July 28, 1973. She attended Bishop Ward High School and UMKC where she earned a degree in elementary education. Tinker taught grade school at Lindbergh and Christ The King Elementary schools in KCK. Her last career was with The University of Kansas Health System as a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Kidney Institute.

Her life revolved around her husband, kids, grandkids, love of the Chiefs and Royals, and all things surrounding friends and family. She never met a stranger. Although she related to people of all ages, she especially loved children; she was one of them and they loved her for it. She was the repository and historian for not only her immediate family, but her huge extended family far and wide. Besides her strong political interests, her other great passion in life was her home at the Lake of the Ozarks. She loved spending every spare moment she could with Gary, family, lake neighbors, and friends enjoying God’s creation. Tinker had just retired shortly before passing and was looking forward to her next best life.

Due to COVID-19, a private service will be held on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020 at 11am. The family will capture the service on video and post it within a few days for all those that so much wanted to attend but couldn’t. Please check back on the Chapel Hill site at dignitymemorial.com for further details.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made on her behalf to Children’s Mercy Hospital. And lastly, to everyone who has asked what they can do for her family, they’ve requested that you be kind to someone, every day in her memory.