Patricia Anne McCreary of Frisco, Texas, passed away on March 7, 2022, at the age of 79. She was born on February 26, 1943, to Dr. Thomas A. Carrigan and Grace Ann Carrigan in Fort Worth, Texas. Patricia grew up in Denton, Texas, where she graduated from Denton High School in 1961 and then went on to graduate from the University of North Texas where she studied Biology and minored in Chemistry. Patricia married Larry McCreary on September 3, 1963, in Denton, Texas. After graduating college, she taught Biology and Chemistry at the high school level at Plano, Texas. She then moved to Blue Ridge to continue teaching at Blue Ridge High School. A few years later they moved to Ozark, Arkansas where they remained for 46 years. Patricia stayed at home to raise their five children. She was member of the First United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School there for many years and served in many roles within the Church.
In 1990, Patricia return to teaching. She started with substitute teaching at the Ozark High school and then later she was hired to teach Quality Control and Food Safety at Vo-tech. She thoroughly enjoyed working there and loved her students. Many years she led her students to compete in state vocational competitions. Vo-Tech was later becoming part of the Arkansas Tech University campus. She quickly adapted to the change in curriculum and excelled. She retired in 2013 from teaching.
Patricia is survived by her children, Gary McCreary of Las Vegas, Nevada, Bill McCreary and wife, Angelia of Bentonville, Arkansas, Ken McCreary and wife, Lupe of Springdale, Arkansas, Becky Michael of Aubrey, Texas and Cindy Gourd and husband, Chance of Aubrey, Texas; grandchildren, Harrison Rooney, Emma Rooney, Levi McCreary, Benjamin McCreary, Jake Michael, Gracie Michael, Katie Michael, Cobe Gourd, Connor Gourd, Carson Gourd and Colton Gourd; brother, Tom Carrigan of Little Rock, Arkansas; and several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry McCreary, and her parents.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 14, 2022, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 North Central Expressway, Allen, Texas 75013. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Patricia’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/patricia-anne-mccreary. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.
Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Cemetery in Blue Ridge, Texas.
The family will receive friends during a visitation from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at the funeral home.