Nathan Otis "Mac" McCrary, Jr, was born on July 16, 1921 in Fremont County, Iowa; the son of Nathan Otis and Mary Elvira (Buntz) McCrary, Sr. Mac entered into the arms of the Lord on Friday morning; September 12, 2008 at the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Mac attended school in Shenandoah and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1938. On December 7, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mac enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served his country with pride until 1944.

On August 6, 1944 he was united in marriage to Jeane Borland at the First Christian Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. They moved to Ames, Iowa where Mac attended Iowa State University. They later moved to Kansas City where Mac attended Kansas City School of Watchmaking. Mac bought his first jewelry store in O'Neil, NE; later they opened the McCrary Jewelry Store in Red Oak, Iowa until 1962, when he began working for the Iowa Department of Transportation in Ames, Iowa. Following his retirement the couple moved back to Shenandoah. The couple was blessed with over 64 years of marriage.

Some of his interests included working with stain glass, watch making, working on clocks, genealogy, and raising asparagus. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah, the 40/8 of the American Legion Post at O'Neil, Red Oak and Shenandoah where he served as Post Commander. He was also a member of the Shenandoah Elks Club #1122, and served in several other community organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Helen Lane, Lois Miller, and Ruth Brown.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Jeane McCrary of Shenandoah, IA; children; Daniel Jay McCrary and wife Maggie of Grosse Pointe Park, MI, Marty Jean Barnett and husband Larry of Red Oak, Iowa, Jon Otis McCrary and wife Heidi of Kalamazoo, MI; grandchildren; Misty Schwartz and husband Gary, Mendy Hayes and husband Steve, Megan Hylok and husband Dan, Anna McCrary, Ryan McCrary, Nathan Tyler McCrary, and Phillip Jon McCrary; 9 great grandchildren; sister Edith Handy, sister-in-law Martha Yates; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 15, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah. Words of comfort were given by Rev. Rick Sleyster. "On Eagles Wings" was sung by Becca Cusick. Terry Stafford accompanied on the piano. "Unforgettable" was also played. Ushers were Don Nelson and Tom Brodersen. Scripture was read by Mendy Hayes. Attending the memory register were Barb Teachout and Carol Bonwell. Caring for the flowers were Clarice Maher, Lavonne Weller and Mary Irvin. Casket bearers were Dan Hylok, Gary Schwartz, Casey Wilson, Doug McGinnis, J. C. Irvin, LeRoy Spears and Rick Sleyster. Honorary casket bearers were all of Mac's Friends and the members of the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88. Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Military rites were accorded by the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88. The Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.