Mr. John Arthur McCray

Obituary John Arthur McCray was born on Tuesday, May 24, 1955 in Enid, Oklahoma, to Grace Louise Spencer McCray and Johnnie Joel McCray, Jr. John was the second child born to this union. John joined Sharon Ann and only a few years later Joyce Anita, his younger sister, followed. John passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. John was 66 years of age. John grew up as the son of a long line of African American educators, including his father, mother, Grandfather Kylie Spencer and Grandmother Lucille Armstrong Spencer. After John’s family moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1959, John started his education in the Wichita Public Schools as a bright young student, where he attended Isley Elementary, Buckner Elementary, Brooks Junior High and Wichita Heights High School. Over the years, John pursued his love of sports with enduring passion for the game of basketball. He also enjoyed being the middle child and only brother, with a fondness for marching to the beat of his own drum. John demonstrated his independence with an interest in music that spanned both rock & roll and rhythm and blues. John graduated from Wichita Heights High School as part of the class of 1973. John enlisted in the United States Navy in 1973, and re-enlisted in 1985. He served in the military and received an honorable discharge. Initially, John pursued college studies at Friends University, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University in 2000. John never married or had children, but loved all of his family. John moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 2004, after the passing of his mother. John benefitted from the caring support of the staff and programs at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Both of his parents and his grandparents, Kylie Spencer, Lucille Spencer, Johnnie McCray, Sr. and Ivory McCray, as well as his cousin, James Spencer, preceded John in death. John is survived by his sisters; brothers-in-law, Louis (Joe) Schooler and Mitchell Daniel Pearson; his nieces and nephew, JoAnna Schooler, Shannon Schooler-Garrett (Jearl), Joel Oliver Pearson (Melissa), Magan Pearson, and Dr. Darion Pearson, as well as two great nephews, Josiah Pearson and Nicholas Pearson, and two great nieces, Lela Louise Garrett and Analise Simone Pearson. He also leaves many loving cousins to cherish his memory, including Frankielieen Conley, Anthony McCray, Kent McCray, Melody McCray Miller, Beryl Spencer Jones, Kirsten Spencer Joyner, Kevin Spencer, and Asali Johnson as well as his many friends. A Memorial service Saturday, April 23, at 3:00pm at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Private Disposition. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. John Arthur McCray, please visit our floral store. Read More

Mr. John Arthur McCray

May 24, 1955 - March 31, 2022