J. Stephen McCrary, age 61, of Morristown, passed away on Monday, July 10, 2023 after a lengthy illness.

He was a member of Economy Methodist Church where he was very involved. Stephen was a 1980 graduate of Morristown-Hamblen High School West where he was the President of his Senior Class and graduated the top of his class.

He graduated from Walters State Community College where he was President of the Senators Pages and then graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1984 and was an avid Tennessee Football fan.

He was the co-owner and operator of Century 21 Real Estate Agency and Masengill, McCrary, and Gregg Insurance Company. He was a member of the Morristown Lions Club, served on the Board of Directors for Volunteer Blind Industries, the Walters State Foundation Board of Directors, and a past Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. McCrary, Jr. and Helen Graves McCrary; grandparents, John F. McCrary, Sr. and Pearl Wisecarver McCrary and Thomas Jason Graves, Sr. and Mildred Rippetoe Graves; uncles, T.J. Graves, Charles Graves, and Pat Moore; and aunt, Beverly Graves.

He is survived by his sister, Diane McCrary and fiancé, Gary Kilgore; aunts, Doris Graves and Anne Moore; cousins, Tricia (Tim) Graves Blash, Tom (Debbie) Moore, Melissa (David) Moore Keane, Donna (Randy) Graves Myers, David (Gail) Graves, Nancy (Dennis) Moore, and Susan (Bruce) Graves Turk; special friend, Cissy Meek and her daughter, Cassie Meek, who was very special to Stephen; and his best friend, David Howard, who was always there for Stephen and his family.

The family will receive friends from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 13th at Westside Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. with Rev. Tim Jones and Rev. Roy Dalton officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11 a.m. Friday, July 14th at Jarnagin Cemetery for graveside services.

Pallbearers will be David Howard, Tom Moore, David Graves, David Ellis, Mark Ashford, Keith Self, and Jesus Ayala. Honorary pallbearers are Hix Masengill, Bill Taylor, Phil Austin, John Austin, Jim Bell, Mike Bell, Mike Helton, and Mark Burnett.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Economy Cemetery: c/o Westside Chapel Funeral Home: 3521 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy. Morristown, TN 37814.

Donations can also be made to the Walters State Foundation Helen McCrary Scholarship Fund in Stephen’s memory: P.O. Box 1508 Morristown, TN 37816, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.