Sarah Lee Shults McCrary

Sarah Lee Shults McCrary, 79, on April 11, 2025, was joyfully reunited with her loving parents, siblings, and her beloved sons, surrounded by the warmth of much of her extended family.

Services were held on Monday, April 14, 2025, in the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Sarah was born on January 6, 1946, to William Mark Shults and Zelma May Mauck Shults in Canyon. She holds the distinction of being the first baby born in that hospital after the war, a fact of which she is particularly proud of.

She was a daddy’s girl, lovingly nicknamed “my little fatty.” As the only girl among three brothers, she was cherished and adored. Her father frequently read her the Bible, nurturing her deep love for Christ and inspiring her faith. Her daddy held her foot every night while she slept with them became a habit that was passed on for generations. She could and would talk to her momma about anything and Sarah became that for all of her kids and grand and great grand babies.

Sarah spent her formative years in the small town of Kress, where she created cherished memories before her family relocated to the vibrant community of Clarendon. It was in this new setting that she encountered Doug, the love of her life. Their paths intertwined, leading to a beautiful union on April 6, 1963. Together, they embarked on a journey filled with love and companionship, celebrating an incredible 62 years of shared experiences and heartfelt moments.

After starting her family, Sarah pursued her education to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and began her lifelong journey in nursing. She mentored many and showered love on countless nursing home residents throughout her career. With a heart dedicated to giving and selflessness, Sarah embodied the qualities of an extraordinary nurse and an inspiring role model.

Sarah was a shining example of dedication to her husband, children, and beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family was fortunate to have her as a matriarch and a steadfast support for everyone. She served as the unwavering foundation that united them, even welcoming those in need from outside the family. Sarah embodied selflessness, always prioritizing her family’s well-being above everything else. No matter the situation arose, she always had a solution, even if the results weren’t what you wanted.

She was adventurous, embraced travel, and faced every challenge with courage. Doug and Sarah passionately rode motorcycles to the Sturgis Bike Rally from 1985 to 2006. Together, they explored countless places during their remarkable 62 years.

When Sarah wasn’t exploring life with her lifelong love, Doug, she found joy in various hobbies. She loved listening to music, sewing cozy blankets and stylish clothes to give gifts to her family. Sarah also collected and painted ceramic dolls, each with its own unique charm, and cherished her Black Hills gold jewelry and porcelain doll collection. However, her favorite pastime was spending time with her grandbabies and great-grandbabies. She delighted in chasing them around, playing games, and reading imaginative stories, drinking coffee, as their laughter filled her heart with joy.

As the last surviving sibling of Bill Shults, James Shults, and Don Shults, she found solace in being reunited with our father in heaven, along with her beloved parents, her two sons, Ivan Douglas McCrary and Terry Wayne McCrary, and her cherished bonus son, Blade Barker.

She left behind a truly inspiring legacy that we all aspire to uphold. Her unwavering love for Christ was beautifully instilled in her family. Sarah is survived by her husband, Doug McCrary, daughter Sherry McCrary, daughter in law Bobbie Joe McCrary, granddaughter Shelina and Chris Wilkins, Orrin and Lynnette McCrary, Justin Barker, Casey and Chance Heimann, Brandon and Amy Barker, Sarah Barker and Jon Mark Yankie and Cordail McCrary. Along with 15 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter that she fought so hard to meet. With numerous nieces and nephews, and a few strays adopted kids and grandkids, that greatly miss her but will strive to carry her legacy for generation to come.