William P. Mccraney

William P. "Bill" McCraney, age 84, passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2016 in Lakeland. Born June 2, 1932 in Gulfport, MS, he was the son of the late Charles H. and Carrie (Moran) McCraney. He was raised in New Orleans and Covington, LA. Mr. McCraney enlisted in U.S. Army in 1949 and was discharged with the rank of Sergeant. During his service he fought in the Korean War and was awarded the Distinguish Service Cross and the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters. After the war, he served in the National Guard in New Orleans where he met his wife Laurie Davis and they were married 1957. He and his family moved to Bartow, Florida in 1967. He was an avid golfer and member of the Bartow Men’s Golf Association. He retired from the United States Department of Agriculture. He was a past member of the Elks Club, the Lions Club, the Bartow Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and Board member of Good Shepherd Hospice. He was active with Summerlin Military Academy at Bartow High School. Mr. McCraney was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Bartow, a life member and past Chapter and State President of the Korean War Veteran's Association, a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a life member of the Disabled Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Veteran's Council of Polk County and the Legion of Valor. Along with his parents, Mr. McCraney is preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife, Laurie Anne Davis McCraney, his children: David Patrick McCraney (Kimberly), Donna Paige McCraney, his brother, Edward McCraney (Elaine) his grandchildren: Drew Catherine Hines, William Tucker Morris (Itzel), Devin Beverly McCraney, and great grandchild, Aiden Morris. The family will receive friends Saturday, September 3rd from 10am to 11am at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, FL. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am at the funeral home chapel.