Kay Valerie McCrea, 79, of Buda, Texas passed away on April 2, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Kay was born in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio to Elmer and Ruth Jenkins on January 20, 1942.
Kay went to high school at Heights School in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio and graduated in 1959. After putting herself through nursing school at Cuyahoga County School of Nursing, she became a Registered Nurse in 1962.
She was a loving wife to Lt. Colonel Michael D. McCrea. As an Air Force wife, she enjoyed travelling and embraced the cultures and artwork of the places she visited with her husband and family, including the Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Belgium, and France. The family moved to Buda in 1984, and Kay has been an active member of the local community ever since. She was a member at St. John’s Presbyterian Church.
Kay’s nursing career also allowed Kay to help put her sons through college. Her vocation as a Registered Nurse took her to a wide variety of medical facilities filling key roles in the lives of those she served. These facilities and diverse locations included: Cleveland Metro Hospital: 1962-63 OR Nurse, 1964 ICU Nurse; Champion Hospital, Biloxi MS 64-65 OR; Altus AFB, OK, USAF Hospital; Hampton, VA – Volunteer -Red Cross Nursing,; Hampton VA, Peninsula Psychiatric Hospital, drug and alcohol dependence unit; Clark AFB, Philippines 1974 – Volunteer ICU; Tacoma, WA, 1984 Puget Sound Hospital-part-time psychiatric duty; 1983 Madigan Army Medical Center – step down unit; and Shoal Creek Hospital – PRN nursing Staff Austin, TX. Kay continued to keep her nursing license up-to-date should the need to care for others arise.
Kay enjoyed sewing and was a prolific quilt maker, she has produced countless beautiful works of art that are displayed in many homes throughout the community. She was active with the Onion Creek Senior Citizens Center and their quilt group. She participated in Buda Fest on multiple occasions.
She was an avid San Antonio Spurs fan, she often engaged in enthusiastic conversations about the state of the Spurs current season, over lunch at the Texican Cafe.
She loved caring for animals, taking in stray cats, watching deer in her back yard, and feeding the birds. She also enjoyed the company of her faithful companion Todo, often taking him on long road trips to visit family across the country or attend nursing reunions.
Kay is survived by her sons Scott McCrea of Greensboro, NC; David McCrea (wife Holly) of Buda, TX. She is also survived by her brother Gerry Jenkins and his wife Susie, and (their daughter/ her niece) Molly of Cleveland, OH. Also, left to cherish her memory are grandchildren: Alex, Ian, and Riley McCrea of Greensboro, NC and Thomas, Michael, Sarah and Nicholas Gianotti, of Buda, TX. She is also survived by her loving and faithful friend Todo, and his companion, Fish.
She is preceded in death by her husband Michael McCrea, and her parents Elmer and Ruth Jenkins.
A public visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Harrell Funeral Home of Kyle, located at 1715 Kirby, 78640.
Following cremation, Kay will join Mike to be inurned with him at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to honor Kay’s memory can be made to PAWs Animal Shelter in Kyle at pawshelter.org. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all of Kay’s friends and neighbors who have cared for and supported Kay since the passing of her husband Mike in 2003.
