Rita Lou Green Mccreary

Rita Lou Green McCreary was born in 1935 on the family farm in Fulton, AR to Maude and Oscar Green. She graduated from Hope High School where she was a member of Latin, English, and Chemistry Clubs, Captain of the girls’ basketball team, and a member of Who’s Who among high school students. She was remembered by classmates as being quick to smile, full of laughter, always jolly, and never melancholy.  After graduating high school, she attended nursing school becoming a nurse anesthetist, later working at Baylor and Methodist Hospitals in Dallas, TX.   It was at Baylor where she met her future husband, Dr. Howell McCreary, who passed away in 1999.  She retired from nursing shortly after giving birth to their 3rd child to raise their children Martin, Stephanie, and Heather.  It was shortly after that, they moved to Gainesville, TX. Gainesville is where Rita took root getting involved in various charitable organizations and church.  She enjoyed gardening at Westminster Presbyterian Church with other parishioners and devoted much time and attention to ABBA Women’s Center and the Women’s Republican Party of Cooke County.

She was instrumental in helping ABBA procure a location for the center and contributed to both organizational and fundraising planning. She also served as director and board member. As a staunch pro-life advocate, these principles carried over into her political endeavors.  Recognized in 1992, Rita was a founding member of the Women’s Republican Party of Cooke County.  She was recognized again in 1994 at the State Convention at the State Republican Party Executive Committee meeting in Austin, TX for her contributions in conservative politics. At election time you would often find her working as a pollster.  Rita had a knack for attention to detail and was known for her sense of style and culinary skills; therefore, often resulting in her being officially or unofficially the Hospitality and Decorating Chair for the organizations to which she donated her time.

She is survived by her children Martin McCreary, Stephanie McCreary, and Heather Deneault; grandchildren Sophie and Stiles; and her brother Ronald Green. She is predeceased by her parents and her siblings:  Inez Yarbrough, Farrell Harrison, Taylor Green, Sue Reed, Janice Sparks, and Dixie Bedoya.

Services for Rita McCreary will commence at 10 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 315 E. Scott Street, Gainesville, TX 76240 with an interment service commencing at 4 pm, Rondo Cemetery, McClure Road, Texarkana, AR 71854.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Westminster Presbyterian Church at the address above and/or ABBA Women’s Center, 214 North Taylor Street, Gainesville, TX, 76240. Online donations to ABBA Women’s Center may be made at https://abbatexas.org/donate.