Nellie Mccracken

Bethel, Nellie Walker Willetts McCracken, age 91, passed away on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. A native of Brunswick County, she was the daughter of the late William Walker and Nancy Jane Bellamy Willetts. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jack Garner McCracken, who died in 1997; a brother, Joseph B. Willetts, an infant brother, and a grandson, Charlie Mayberry. She received her teaching degree from Woman's College at UNC-Greensboro and did graduate work at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her teaching career spanned 39 years, teaching in the Brunswick County School System for six years and retiring from the Haywood County School System where she taught fourth grade at Bethel Elementary for 33 years. She was past Matron of Sonoma Chapter 254 Order of the Eastern Star and past president of Retired Teachers of Haywood County. She was an active member of Bethel Presbyterian Church and especially loved gardening, namely her flowers, sharing them with her church and her many friends. In addition to her husband of 55 years, her son and daughter, her grandchildren were the most important part of her life, and she enjoyed the time spent helping raise them. She is survived by her son, Jack G. McCracken, II and his wife, LaNae, of Bethel; her daughter, Nancy McCracken Mayberry and her husband, Charles, of Johnson City, TN; one brother, Elmore Willetts and his wife, Louise, of Winnebow, NC; four grandchildren, John Wayne McCracken and his wife, Amy, Susan McCracken Francis and her husband, John, David Garner McCracken, and Jack McCracken Mayberry; four great grandchildren, Ashley, Valery, and John Eric Francis and Natasha McCracken; as well as several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2008 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Riley Covin and Reverend Davis Whiteside, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday and also on Saturday one hour prior to services at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the residence of Mrs. McCracken, 390 Peters Cove Road. Memorials may be made to the Retired Teachers Association Scholarship for Future Teachers, c/o Dale Jackson, 57 Chateau Place, Waynesville, NC 28785

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