Elmer E. McCready, 81, Chanute, died Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Heritage Health Center.

He was born Sept. 15, 1927, at Brazilton to Arthur James and Lucy May Johnson McCready.

He married Betty Willis Mitchell on April 19, 1989, in Dallas, Texas. She survives.

He served in the Army and Air Force for 27 years in Germany, Japan and United States.

He worked for the Dallas Federal Reserve in accounting.

Other survivors include two daughters, Kathy Benjamin, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Susan McCready, Jacksonville, Fla.; three sons, Mark McCready, Lodi, Calif., David McCready, Security, Colo., and Steven McCready, Bonaire, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Judith Steffen, Chanute; two stepsons, Mike Mitchell, Chanute, and Tom Mitchell, Thayer; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Ray McCready, Chanute; and a sister, Clara May Dougherty, Thayer.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Juanita Carson.

Funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist Church in Chanute. Burial will follow at Thayer Cemetery under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Contributions may made to American Legion Baseball or Chanute Art Gallery in care of the funeral home.