Wilsey Phil Mccracken

Wilsey Phil McCracken was born on Friday, March 4, 1910, near Sterling in Rice County, Kansas, to James Ernest McCracken and Mary Eliza (Johnson) McCracken. He moved with his family to a farm near Vandalia, Missouri in 1919 and a farm near Rantoul, Kansas on January 20, 1920. In 1940, he moved to Ottawa, where he made his home until his death on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the age of ninety-six years. He graduated from Rantoul Elementary School in 1924 and Rantoul Rural High School in 1928. Later, Phil took courses in Electricity and Electronics at Kansas University night school. In 1922, he accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, was baptized in the Marais des Cygnes River on October 15, 1922, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rantoul. After his move to Ottawa with his family, he transferred his membership to the present First United Methodist Church and continued actively in the church and the Sunshine Class. On January 11, 1930, Phil was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Letha May Womble, and they were blessed with seventy-six years of loving companionship. To this union, three children were born: Beverly Clark-Hughes, preceded in death, Shirley Terrill and her husband, Joe, of Topeka, and Larry McCracken and his wife, Kay, of Overland Park, Kansas. The extended family now includes nine grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren. He is also preceded in death by three brothers, Everett McCracken in 1976, Clyde McCracken in 1997, Paul McCracken in 1998; granddaughter, Melinda Ann McCracken; and great grandson, Shaun Strain. Phil has been involved in several vocations: Farming, Flour Milling, Electrician, Electrical Contracting, Retail Sales, and as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Franklin County. He was somewhat of a sports enthusiast and enjoyed baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, horseshoe pitching, and golf. Phil was active in the following fraternal organizations: On August 27, 1946, Phil was raised a Master Mason at Ottawa Lodge No. 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1952 and 1981. He later served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 11th District of the Grand Lodge of Kansas in 1957 - 1958. On November 19, 1947, Phil became a 32nd degree member of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite and, in 1987, Phil received his 33rd degree coronation. In 1979, he received the Rank and Decoration of Investiture Knights Commander of the Court of Honor. For approximately 10 years, he served as District and Area Lecturer. He was Assistant Grand Tyler in 1982. Phil served in Ottawa Lodge No. 18 in almost every position throughout the years, but most notably, he served the Lodge as Chaplain continuously from 1955 to 2005. Additional memberships include all York Rite Bodies of Ottawa, Ottawa Chapter No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; Ottawa Council No. 18, Royal and Select Masons; Tancred Commandery No. 11 Knights Templar; Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests; Past Commanders Association of Kansas; Royal Order of Scotland; Retta Conclave No. 8, Order of True Kindred; White Shrine of Jerusalem, No. 19 and Union Chapter No. 15, Order of Eastern Star. He was also a member and past president of Ottawa Rotary Club, worked in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and was a former district chairman of Kaw Council in 1952. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. McCracken at Dengel & Son Mortuary after 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to the service hour, where family will meet with friends from 7 to 8:00 Thursday evening. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery with Masonic Services. The family suggests memorial contributions to Midland Hospice or First United Methodist Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.