Thelma L. McCrackin

Thelma McCrackin, age 84, of Grandville, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2020.  She was preceded in death by her husband Lonnie McCrackin; daughter, Kelly McCrackin; parents James R. and Cora L. (Shelton) Gillespie; brothers, Lamar, Arthur, Dyke, Gilbert, and J.D. Gillespie and sister, Gladys (Gillespie) Shannon.  She is survived by her son, John McCrackin and his wife Tara (Patrick) McCrackin,and their daughter Taylor; sisters, Jane (Gillespie) Atkins, Barbara (Gillespie) Richey, and Sue (Gillespie) Hamlin and; many nieces and nephews.  Thelma was born May 17, 1935 in Moulton, Alabama, and moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1953.  She traveled to Kalamazoo alone by bus from Alabama at the age of 17 for better opportunities and to attend business school.  She arrived with “no more than 10 cents” in her pocket to make a call to her brother Lamar whose family she subsequently lived with.  She and Lonnie met there and later married on June 28, 1958.  They moved to Grandville, Michigan in 1968 with their son, John, and daughter, Kelly. In Grand Rapids, MI, Thelma was a nurse’s assistant at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans for most of her career.  Always a provider and nurturer, Thelma was a natural at taking care of people whether it be her immediate family, an aunt, an uncle, a niece, a nephew, or a veteran.  She especially enjoyed taking care of her family, cooking, running the household, and managing the family financial direction.  Her family and their friends loved her southern cooking. Although Thelma could be opinionated, opinions often accompanied by animation and words to stretch the imagination, the best of intentions were meant.   Thelma could also tell a great story; where facts were suspect to augmentation. She and Lonnie had great fun together and were a natural fit for one another. They enjoyed fishing, going to the casinos, traveling the wondrous state of Michigan, and visiting family and friends together in Alabama. She doted on her grandchild, Taylor.  She had a tremendous passion for her family and cared deeply for them.  She was happy as-long-as she knew they were happy, productive, and healthy regardless of the path in life they chose.   We will miss our Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, and friend very much. Our gift back to Thelma will be to take care of each other, carry on her strength, courage, and drive to succeed in our pursuits and to do the right thing, no matter the obstacle.  Per the desires of Thelma, a private graveside service has been held prior to this publication.  In lieu of flowers the family wish donations be made to Emmanuel Hospice of West Michigan, https://emmanuelhospice.org/donate/,  whose care and support for Thelma and her husband, Lonnie, during the end of life’s journey, we shall be forever grateful for.  The family also encourages donations be made to the League of Women Voters, https://www.lwv.org/, to honor and commemorate the strong female role models in our lives.