Reathel McCready

REATHEL BAILEY McCREADY, age 86, born in Blue Ridge, Georgia, died July 14, 2011. She moved to east Tennessee when young and graduated from Polk County High School. After attending Draughon’s Business College, she graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1945. Reathel married Robert Alexander McCready of Toronto, Canada in 1945, a minister for the church of Christ for over 50 years. Together, they worked as a team in several congregations beginning in Toronto for five years until he retired from the North Ridge Avenue congregation in Georgia where they lived for 10 years. He preceded her in death in 1998. During their life together, she was involved in many church and community activities: church secretary, coordinator of care groups for women, speaker for special days for women including lectureships and youth rallies. Mrs. McCready enjoyed writing and had several articles and poems published in Christian journals. Her passion was demonstrated in her teaching Bible classes for women and her Tuesday Ladies’ Class in Tennessee. Reathel was preceded in death by parents William and Pearlie Bailey, sister Ruby Gilliland and her husband Foy Gilliland, brother Reid Bailey, and nephew Harold Gilliland. Mrs. McCready was survived by two daughters: Bonita Brown (Larry) of Texas and Elizabeth Brooks (Michael) of Arkansas; one son: Robert Alexander McCready II (Silva) of Arkansas; three granddaughters: Caitlin Brown of Colorado, Rebecca McCready of Arkansas, and Rachel McCready of Arkansas; three grandsons: Justin Brown (Sara) of Colorado, Matthew Brooks of Arkansas, and [Robert] Alexander McCready III of Arkansas; one great grandson: Ian Brown of Colorado, and three nieces: Barbara Wilson of Florida, Elaine Teffeteller (Gordon) of Georgia, and Jean Gilliland (Harold) of Tennessee. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at the West Side church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the following: French Speaking Missions Fund, Harding University, Box 12238, Searcy, Arkansas 72149, or Partners in Progress, P.P. Box 13989, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113. Arrangements by Powell Funeral Home of Searcy.

Reathel McCready

December 8, 1924 - July 14, 2011