BENTON – Johnnie Mae (Perritte) McCreery, 98, of Benton, passed away at 12:00 a.m., on Sunday. October 15, 2023, at Helia Healthcare in Benton.
She was born on July 6, 1925, to John and Minnie (Wagnon) Perritte in Nacogdoches, TX. She attended Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX, and also the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL. On March 30, 1946, Johnnie married John A. McCreery, Jr. in San Angelo, TX and he preceded her in death on December 18, 2001.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Benton where she served as the Church Historian and was also the Meals On Wheels Coordinator for 10 years in Benton.
Johnnie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Bill and Martha McCreery of Lake Benton, IL; her daughter Linda McCreery of Albuquerque, NM; two grandsons Jordan John McCreery and his wife Elizabeth of Collinsville, IL and Michael Lee McCreery of Benton, IL and two great-grandchildren Jaylen and Syler of Collinsville, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Minnie Lee Perritte, her husband John A. McCreery and her brother-in-law Paul McCreery.
Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Benton.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church in Benton, with the Rev. Jesse Hinds officiating.
Burial will follow services in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Benton and or the Benton Performing Arts Boosters, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Brenda Kellam for being mom’s caregiver for many years.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
