Barbara McCreary

Barbara Evelyn McCreary of Shaler Township died on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the age of 89 while working in her yard. While she loved her home of 62 years, she was called to a better eternal home, now gathered with God’s people around the throne of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her lifelong hope of salvation in Jesus is now her eternal reality.

Barbara treasured the love of her life, Clyde McCreary, her husband of 46 years, who preceded her in death. She is survived by two daughters, Karen (Roger) Huffman and Janice (Gary) Schultz, and four grandchildren: Heather, Kirsten, and Ryan Huffman, and Doug Schultz. She is also survived by three generations of nieces and nephews. 

All who knew Barb marveled at her stamina, work ethic, and determination to do everything “right-right”. She painstakingly manicured the landscape of her home, celebrating each season with lawn decor, many of which were hand-made. Before Clyde died, she orchestrated grand 4th of July celebrations, complete with parades, custom-made costumes, and even bringing in a bagpiper one year and a horse another year. She was meticulous in everything she put her hand to, including seamstress work, gardening, ceramics, and crafts. Baking was her love language to express gratitude to others, offering gifts of delicious pies with incomparable crusts. Fiercely resourceful, she was known to have literally moved hillsides with shovel and wheelbarrow, and molded her own steppingstones out of concrete. Barb was determined to find ways to fix things to make them last longer. She would call all over the country to find replacement parts or products that were long out of production. She also demonstrated great skill in her avid hobby of family genealogy, all without of the use of computers (which she never owned) or the internet (which she never cared to learn). Nevertheless, she was truly a woman of amazing diverse skills. While Barb loved her home and yard, her greatest love was Jesus and his revealed truth in the Bible. She deeply treasured the gospel-centered faith of historic Lutheranism, teaching Sunday School for years, passing on Christ’s teachings to the next generation, sharing God’s word with anyone who was open to hear, and encouraging her children and grandchildren to remain faithful to God’s Word. She loved to share these truths in multiple media. Her hand-made church banners and table decorations for church festivals were instructional tools to communicate the good news of Jesus. 

The family looks forward to receiving guests at Bethany Lutheran Church, 5155 N Pioneer Rd., Gibsonia, PA on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 10 – 11 am. Following the visitation, all are invited to attend Barb’s Christian Funeral Service at 11 am at the same location. All are also encouraged to join the family for a luncheon (details to be provided). Interment will be at Mt. Royal Cemetery on a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be given to Bethany Lutheran Church at the address above.