Thelma “Tim” McCrary, born on August 19, 1923, died May 18, 2006.

She was born in Taylor Texas, a small town north east of Austin. The daughter of a struggling farmer, her chances of leaving Texas and seeing the world seemed remote until she met a handsome young Chief Petty Officer in Corpus Christi, Texas. On August 9, 1947 she became Mrs. R.F. McCrary. For the next 17 years she traveled as a Navy wife and loved every minute of it.

Their only child, Joe, was born in 1949 while they were stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. Other duty stations included Jacksonville, Fla., Corpus Christi, Alameda, Calif., Chincoteague, Va., Patuxent River Md., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Mac” retired from the Navy in 1964 and the family moved to Corpus Christi.

In the early ’70s, while visiting her sister in Washington, Tim and Mac took a side trip to Whidbey Island and fell in love with it. They left Texas and moved to Oak Harbor in 1975. Tim’s love of cooking (she published her own cookbook) led to what she and Mac are probably best remembered for: their amazing “Texas Barbecue Bash” held every August. Ribs, briskets, cole slaw, beans, homemade bread and pickles, little pecan pies, lots of ice cold beer, 80 or 90 friends, and way too many verses of “The Eyes of Texas.”

Mac died in 1999 and even though Tim was surrounded by great friends and loving family, she never really got over the loss of her partner and pal. Tim passed away on the morning of May 18 at the age of 82. She is survived by her son Joe McCrary and his wife Susan, two sisters (also Navy widows) Margaret Farris and Josie Andreola and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, June 26 at St. Augustine’s Church in Oak Harbor. Reception to follow at the CPO Club.