Hubert Earl McCrary

Reverend Hubert McCrary, age 96 passed into life eternal in the early morning hours of Friday, May 10, 2013 in Stanley House Assisted Living. He was born January 23, 1917 in Holmes County, Florida the son of Ralph Frazier McCrary and Annie Lee Nelson Frazier. Hubert worked in many jobs as a young man, in a time very different from today’s America. Jobs were scarce, but Hubert always found work and time to court the love of his life, Ruby. Ruby had been stricken with polio as a child and was confined to a wheel chair but managed to win Hubert’s heart. By 1944 during the height of World War II Hubert had entered the full time gospel ministry, his first charge as associate at Trinity and for the next thirty four years preached the Word of God in Methodist Churches over three conferences. In 1983, Hubert and Ruby retired to DeFuniak Springs where they immediately became members and got busy serving the Lord in First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs. One of Brother Hubert’s favorite quotes and one he never failed to tell when asked about his ministry was when he served the charge known as Pittsview, Hatchechubee, Euchee, Ossichee and Cottonton. On September 4, 2001 his beloved Ruby was called home. Those who were fortunate enough to have known Reverend Hubert Earl McCrary got an earthly glimpse of The Savior; by Hubert’s gentle caring loving quiet nature, the peace of Jesus Christ became apparent. One could easily recognize the joy of serving The Lord by the “happy heart” Hubert possessed. One of the most telling stories of Hubert’s life, and one he loved to tell was when he was asked to fill the pulpit at First United Methodist Church in DeFuniak, where as a retired minister he had his membership for a number of years. It was on Psalm Sunday and he was filling the pulpit that morning in the absence of the minister. Hubert, along with the youth of the church, carrying palm branches, were to enter the sanctuary from the rear of the church and walked down the aisle to the pulpit area. Standing in the narthex in his robe, one of the children seeing him in his robe, and remembering seeing him every Sunday sitting in the congregation looked up at Hubert and exclaimed “You are no reverend, I know you, and you are no reverend”. Brother Hubert delighted in telling that story and told it often; but the irony is, actually he was “reverend”, and he was reverend his whole life. No doubt at 12:42 A.M. Friday morning Hubert Earl McCray heard an old familiar scripture: Well done thy good and faithful servant……..enter thou into the joy of The Lord.

Hubert is survived by numerous nieces and nephews including a special niece Sue Yearwood who, since Ruby’s death, has seen to his needs. But there are numerous other survivors, those who were touched by the ministry of Hubert McCrary and who will carry the memory of this life well lived as an example.

There will be no flowers, rather memorials may be made in Hubert McCrary’s memory to First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs, or Emerald Coast Hospice or The Activity Fund at Stanley House. Visitation will be Sunday, May 12, 2013 from 1 until 2 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs with the funeral beginning at 2P.M. with Dr. Larry Teasley officiating. Private family burial will be in Darlington Cemetery.