Barbara Jane (Barb) McCrea

Barbara Jane "Barb" McCrea 87, of DeKalb passed away on June 19, 2022, at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL. She was born September 5, 1934, in Ft. Wayne, IN and was the daughter of Melvin O. and Wanda (Root) Stirlen.

Barb attended Huntertown High School in Huntertown, IN, graduating with the class of 1952. She met Thomas (Tom) McCrea when she was in 7 ^th grade, and he was in 8 ^th grade.  They dated all through high school and were married at the Wallen Methodist Church in Wallen, IN, on October 25, 1952, six months after she graduated high school.  They would have celebrated their 70 ^th anniversary this year.  Tom and Barb had three daughters, Cynthia Jane, Cay Lynne, and Christine Sue.

Barb enjoyed spending winters in Florida, playing golf, family summer vacations at Lost Lake in Northern Wisconsin, going on trips with The Castle Club from First National Bank, annual canoe trips with good friends on the Current River in Missouri, parties at the DeKalb Elks, and watching the Cubs and Duke basketball on TV.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in DeKalb for more than 60 years; she was also part of the United Methodist Women's Group.  She enjoyed helping with their annual bazaar making craft items and serving as chair of the bake shop. She was also co-chair with Tom of Altar Guild.

After the kids started school, Barb worked as a crossing guard and lunchroom aide at Jefferson School, was a teacher's aide for girls P.E. at DeKalb High School and was a vision and hearing technician for the DeKalb County Health Department.  She retired from there in 1990. She was a leader of the Tilton Park Clovers 4H Club for several years and was especially proud when they won 1 ^st place blue ribbons for their Share the Fun performances at the Illinois State Fair.

Barb is survived by her husband; Tom of DeKalb, daughters; Cindy of Roscoe, IL and Christe of Sycamore. Grandson; Joshua (Fallon) McCrea of Port Orchard, WA, a granddaughter; Stephanie (Tom Reece) Browning of Ankeny, IA, a great grandson; Sabastein Chaney-McCrea of Sycamore, great granddaughters; Presley and Bailey McCrea of Port Orchard, WA, Hatie Jane Alexander of Sycamore, and Eysis and Mabel Adams of DeKalb. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law; Jim and Dee McCrea of Ft. Wayne, IN, sister-in-law; Nina Stirlen of Garret, IN and several cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Cay Lynne, brother Patrick Stirlen, sisters; Rosemary Smith and Norma Roady, grandson Ronald Salisbury and granddaughter Amber Salisbury.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church in DeKalb with Reverend Mary Gay McKinney officiating. Burial will be held immediately following the service at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb.  Visitation will be held on Friday, June 24, 2022, from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb. Visitation will also be held on Saturday June 25, 2022 at 10:00am till the time of the service in the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Barb McCrea memorial fund in care of Finch Funeral Home.  Memorial funds will be donated to the United Methodist Women's Group and Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL.

The family wished to thank Dr. Thakkar for his excellent care of Barb for many years and the awesome staff at Serenity Hospice and Home for their excellent care of Barb while she was a patient there.

Arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL 60115 815-0758-3841.