This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Crary, LaGree Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5104/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Barbara Crary of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died on December 9, 2010, after a brief illness. Her daughter Susan was with her when she died. She was born Barbara Lou LaGree, on June 6, 1925, in Newton, Kansas, to Blanche (Barbee) and Matt LaGree. Her family endured many hardships during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Barbara's father was able to find work as a mechanic for the Santa Fe Railroad, and a much happier life began for the family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1943, she met and married Thomas Hunter Crary. They and their Cocker Spaniel, Splash, started their life together in Old Town in Albuquerque. On June 17, 1945, Barbara and her older daughter were baptized at the Church of Our Savior in San Gabriel, California. Thus began Barbara's lifelong devotion to the Episcopal church and to her Christian faith. At the end of World War II, Barbara and her older daughter were on the first boatload of dependents to land in Okinawa where they joined Tom. After Tom left the service, he and Barbara and their two daughters lived in Deadwood, South Dakota, and in Jackson, Michigan. In 1982, Tom and Barbara returned to New Mexico for their retirement. They lived in Las Cruces, where Barbara leaves behind many friends. Their retirement years were shared with two good and faithful companions: a Cocker Spaniel named Chica, and then Corky, a "pound puppy" they rescued from the animal shelter. Barbara love to swim, play golf and bridge, and spent many hours at the Las Cruces Country Club. She was faithful in her church attendance, was active in altar guild, helped in the soup kitchen and was a Daughter of the King. During the final years of her life, she was unable to walk due to post-polio syndrome, and was in almost constant pain. She faced these challenges with grace and good humor, earning the sobriquet of "steel magnolia." Barbara was preceded in death by her parents: by her brother, Rodney LeGree: and by her husband, Tom. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Scoville and Susan James; by a niece, Margaret Sager: by her grandchildren, Rob Scoville and Suzanne Scoville; by her granddaughter-in-law Colleen Flanagan; by her great granddaughter Dora Scoville; and by her care-giver and friend, Cindy. Her funeral service will be held at 10 A.M., January 15, 2011, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 518 N. Alameda, Las Cruces, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, donations made to St. Andrew's Memorial Fund would be very welcome. To send the Crary family condolences log on to www.lapaz-grahams.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on January 6, 2011 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.