Patricia A. McCreary

Patricia “Pat” McCreary, 78, died May 27, 2016 at the Villa at the Bay, Petoskey, MI.  She was born in Watertown, South Dakota on July 6, 1937 to Maynard and Violet (Wicklund) Linngren.  She spent her childhood years in South Dakota and Kansas, graduating from Enterprise, Kansas High School in 1955.  She attended the University of Kansas for one year before moving to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where she worked for the City of St. Cloud.

Pat then moved to San Francisco, California where she worked as Secretary for the Standard Register Company.  There she met and married Albert McCreary.  The McCrearys moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Pat worked as a billing clerk for Bernis Brothers Bag Company and where their son, Peter, was born.  After a short marriage, Patricia and Peter relocated to Santa Barbara, California.  Pat worked in the Financial Aid Office of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she subsequently took classes earning her Bachelor’s Degree with a Teaching Certificate and a Master’s Degree in History.

Pat accepted a teaching position in Big Stone City, South Dakota, and after two years relocated to Gettysburg, South Dakota where she taught for ten years.  Pat then accepted an opportunity of a lifetime, and moved to Nagasaki, Japan to teach English at Kwassui Women’s College, where she taught for 14 years.  During this time, she wrote a biography of Kwassui Women’s College founder, Elizabeth Russell, which became published as a book and on film in Japan.

After retiring, Pat moved to Milbank, South Dakota and then St. Ignace, Michigan to be close to her son, Peter.

Patricia loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit Sweden, New Zealand, Mexico, Hong Kong, England, Canada plus many European countries.  She also loved visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan where her son Peter has worked since 1980.  Patricia had a passion for books and read as many as possible, frequenting any local library.  She also had a love for genealogy and has collected extensive family history.  She was active in local book clubs, historical societies, the Retired Teachers Association and authored several books of local history  in Kansas, South Dakota and Michigan including “The Company and The Community: A History of the Telephone Company of St. Ignace and Surrounding Communities.”  She also enjoyed Crossword and Sudoku puzzles, Public Broadcasting Radio and Television, crocheting, which she donated many crocheted items to veterans and local hospitals, and she loved a good conversation.

She is survived by one son, Peter McCreary and wife, Emily, of St. Ignace, Michigan, brother, Steve (Diane) of Atlanta, Georgia and brother, John,  of Portland, Oregon, nieces, great-nephew and nieces , and a multitude of cousins and friends.

Per Patricia’s wishes, cremation has taken place with the assistance of Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service.  A private family celebration of life will take place at a later date.

Please share your memories and personal messages with her family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com