Gerald "Jerry" Mccrea

Gerald “Jerry” McCrea left this life to be in the loving presence of our Father in Heaven, December 2, 2015, just hours after his 92nd birthday. He was surrounded by family in the days leading up to his passing. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at O’Connor Funeral Home, 2425 8th Ave N. Funeral liturgy will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Trinitas Chapel on the University of Great Falls Campus with burial to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Jerry was born on December 1, 1923 to Albert Edwin and Mabel Catherine (O’Brien) McCrea, near Big Sandy Montana. Jerry grew up working on a ranch and attended a one room school in Eagleton, MT. He graduated from Big Sandy High School where he lettered in football. Jerry served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and then the U.S Navy in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He trained for the invasion of Japan but his unit was immediately disbanded after the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. He completed the rest of his tour as a signalman on the U.S.S. Blue Ridge. After the war he attended the Whitman School of Interior Design in New York City. Jerry met Teresa Delores Huff through the Chancellor’s Club and they were married in January of 1955. They resided briefly in Billings and moved to Great Falls to raise their family. He worked for retailers, including Beckman’s and J.C. Penny, creating store window displays. He later worked at the Montana Granite Company and then was employed at the College of Great Falls as a bookstore clerk. He retired as the UGF bookstore manager in 1998. Jerry loved collecting and reading books on Asian Art, Gardening, Irish and Scottish heritage, and researching the McCrea ancestry. He ran in the Great Falls Icebreaker Run into his mid 80s. Jerry is survived by his children, Geralyn Phelps of Roseburg, OR, Brien (Cindy) McCrea of Woodinville, WA, Sharon McCrea of Great Falls, Dr. Kevin (Joleen) McCrea of Laurel, and Roderick McCrea of Great Falls; as well as ten grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Teresa; brothers Stephen, Edwin Lancelot “Ted” and Charles Patrick McCrea; and sister Senoma Catherine Howard.