Obituary : James Jasper McCray
James Jasper McCray
James Jasper McCray, known to many as J. J. McCray, was the son of Phineas
and Rachel Fort McCray of Warrington, Hancock county, Indiana. He was born
January 24th, 1853; thus making him 87 years, 6 months, and 2 days old on
July 26, 1940, when he departed this life at his home, 109 North River Blvd.,
Independence, Mo. Mr. McCray enjoyed remarkably good health considering his
advanced age and at the last suffered less than an hour from a heart attack.
He leaves a wife and two daughters Vergie and Viva, his only son Myron having
preceded him in death on May 20, 1940. He was the last survivor of 13
children of a pioneer Indiana family. He spent 27 years of his life in
Indiana. He acquired part of his education in Spiceland, Academy, a Quaker
school, and part at Greenfield, Ind., where he acquired the special education
qualifying him to receive a teachers certificate known then as a teachers
"license." In writing some notes about his own life, Mr. McCray
wrote the following: "After teaching 7 years in Hancock county, Ind., I
sold my buggy and pony and went to Kansas. I got to Centralia, Kansas, on
the 25th of March, 1880, a little before daylight, getting my breakfast in
the McCubbin hotel. Thomas Dodd brought me to Edwin Smith's home 6 miles
southwest of Centralia. About the first things I saw were prairie chickens,
many of them. They flew very fast and soon lighted. The prairie chickens
have disappeared. I have seen and struck many prairie rattlesnakes which are
very poisonous. I think they have now disappeared." Mr. McCray's family
and friends in Indiana regretted seeing him go to this western prairie
country as they believed it to be inhabited by wild beasts and roving
Indians, but he found it to be quite different and decided to make this
Kansas country his home. After being engaged in teaching in Centralia and
surrounding country for a number of years, he became county superintendent of
schools of Nemaha county, occupying this office from 1888 to 1893. After
living in Seneca these four years he again returned to teaching in this
county for a number of years. In 1901 Mr. McCray and his family moved to
Marion county, Kansas, later moving to Manhattan, where his children could
have the advantages of attending the Kansas State College. He also attended
the Kansas State College, taking the Farmers Short Course. It was one of the
greatest joys of his life to see them graduate from this college. For the
past 25 years his home has been in Independence, Mo. Another great joy of
his life was the celebrating of his Golden Wedding anniversary on December
10, 1936, having spent 50 happy years with Margaret McDougal to whom on Dec.
20, 1886, he was united in marriage. Wherever Uncle Jas, as he was familiarly
known, has lived, he lived the kind of life which won the respect of the
people of the community. He showed a keen interest in community and national
problems and was active in public affairs, always standing for right and
justice. He served on the city council for a number of years while living in
Manhattan. Mr. McCray's life has been guided by Christian principles and on
May 5, 1920, he complied with one of the special commands of God by being
baptized and becoming a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day
Saints. He was happy that he could attend prayer meeting on Wednesday night
before his passing early Friday morning. All through life Mr. McCray
enjoyed reading and in his declining years this was a source of great
pleasure to him. He was interested in reading the daily papers, new books,
and especially enjoyed reading and reciting poems. When he lived in
Greenfield, Indiana, he lived in the home of James Whitcomb Riley, the
"Hoosier Poet." It seems fitting to read verses of James Whitcomb
Riley here today. His son, Myron, had written a number of poems, one of
which contains valuable thoughts for each of us here today. It was written
on May 15, 1937, and is entitled "An Evening Prayer."
An Evening Prayer
We are fast coming to life's end
Soon our soul will begin it's celestial trend,
Heaven is nearer us every day
Oh, God, teach us how to live and pray,
Teach us how to love one and all our neighbors,
And help us to expect no extra favors,
Let us all strive to do our duties well
So we may come home in heaven to dwell.
Our earthly sun is setting in the west
Calling us all to come to our rest,
Help us to work for one another
And teach us everyone is our brother.
May we always do our best
To help all others gain in their zest.
Teach us all a heavenly song
So we may join each other in the celestial throng.
Help us all our hopes to win
Keep us from all earthly sin,
Teach us we must always to our friends be true
Make us realize the good things we do,
Will be for us a heavenly crown
And help us to never,ever wear a frown
Keep us always up and forward
'Till we join the ranks of Our Lord.
Funeral service was held at the Congregational church in Centralia Sunday
afternoon at 4 o'clock. Rev. Ammon White, Independence, Mo., giving the
funeral address. An obituary prepared by the family was read by Mrs. T.K.
Bosworth. A male quartet, Earl Hightower, Oscar Darr, George Young
[text missing] "Crossing the Bar." Mrs. D. Hightower was
at the piano. The pallbearers, nephews of the family were Lester and Joe
McDougal, Lawrence Blankley, Raymond Kout, Leonard Hilbert, and Walter R.
Smith. Mrs. Emma Smith Lytle, Mrs. Walter R. Smith and Mrss. Oscar Darr cared
for the flowers. Burial was in the Centralia cemetery. Those from out of
town who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Myron McCray, Mrs. Delmar Akin and
Mrs. Empson of Zeandale, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. John H. King, Goff; Mrs. Agnes
Brooks, Miss Nellie King, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hilbert and son Wallace,
Independence, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Blankley, Mrs. and Mrs. Ernest
Thompson, Lawrence Blankley, Marion; Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Smith, Salina;
Mr. and Mrs. Lew Chew, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Lew Chew, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Park and daughter Juanita of Atchison; Mr. and Mrs. Lester McDougal, Mrs. and
Mrs. John McDougal, Joe McDougal, Corning; Mr. and Mrs. Lester Smith and
family, and Ivan McDougal, Frankfort; Mrs. Tom Johnson, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs.
I. Lynch, Mrs. and Mrs. Ernest Massey, Corning.
Card of Thanks
We desire to express our sincere thanks to all relatives and friends who so
kindly assisted us in our hour of need. We want to especially thank those
who provided the music and to express our appreciation for the use of the
Congregational church.
Mrs. J. J. McCray and family
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