Patricia Ann Mccreery

Patricia Ann (Wicks) McCreery On Saturday, July 6, we said goodbye to Patricia Ann (Wicks) McCreery, a loving mother and grandmother who was 85 years young.Born in Whitehouse, Ohio, on Aug. 2, 1927, to Lawrence Wicks and Edith (Boyd) Wicks, Pat was a bright and energetic student. When Donovan Richard (Dick) McCreery came as a new student to the Monclova elementary school, Pat met her lifelong best friend. They dated throughout high school. As the valedictorian and president of her Monclova High School Class of 1945, Pat earned a full-ride scholarship to Wooster College. She went to college, while Dick enlisted in the Navy. They wrote to each other daily while apart. Dick returned from service to attend the University of Toledo, and in January 1947, they married. In February 1948, Pat became a mother for the first time. She and Dick had another seven children together over the next 20 years.In 1956, the family relocated to Wayne, Michigan. While raising her large family, she returned to Wayne State University to finish her bachelors degree that she had started 20 years earlier. She continued her graduate education at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), while working full time on campus. In her later years, she helped to establish Elderwise, a group focused on lifelong learning based at EMU. She never stopped learning or instilling the value of it in her children and grandchildren.As a mother, Pat encouraged independence and ambition. She was proud of her childrens multiple college degrees and distinguished careers, but even more importantly, their family-centric lives. She loved the role of grandmother and great-grandmother.Throughout her life, she was active in the community from establishing the first library at her childrens elementary school to campaigning for candidates that aligned with her liberal political views. She was always an advocate for social justice issues. Throughout their marriage, Dick and Pat traveled. Pats love of research and maps made her the perfect navigator at Dicks side.The lifelong friendships she formed with so many were a testament to her insight, integrity, and candor. She cherished her friends from various book clubs, social groups, and travels. She never stopped making new friends, and loved a good discussion, almost as much as a good cup of coffee. She was a voracious reader and always had a lengthy list of books on her list. She spent considerable time researching her genealogy and enjoyed the stories that unfolded. Her laugh was easy, and she made everyone feel welcome with her warm hospitality.After Dicks death in March 2009, Pat moved in with her youngest daughters family in Ottawa Hills, Ohio. She re-acquainted herself with extended family and made new friends in the Toledo area.She died at home, peacefully. She is survived by her eight children: Lawrence Donovan of Kapaa, Kauai, HI; Lucinda Quackenbush (Eric) of Ann Arbor, MI; Timothy David (Patricia Patton) of Lafayette, CA; Kenneth Dale (Juanita Quino) of Sacramento, CA; Roger Duane (Anne Hollander) of Bethesda, MD; Rebecca Lund (Scot) of White Lake, MI; Kathleen Merrill (Kevin) of Ottawa Hills, OH; and Ian Andrew (Barbara Butkus) of Albany, CA. She is survived by her 21 grandchildren, her great granddaughter, many friends and a large extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Lawrence and Carlton Wicks, and her loving husband.Her long and happy life will be celebrated Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at the First Unitarian Church, Toledo Ohio, at a 1:30 p.m. service. Interment will be a private ceremony for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Toledo Lucas County Library Legacy Foundation for the purchase of new books.