Thomas "Dale" McCrary

Mr. Thomas "Dale" McCrary, 92, of Smithville passed away on April 30, 2026. He was born at home in the Murray community near Bradyville, Tennessee. His parents were the late Cleveland McCrary and Nannie Denton McCrary. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Gail McCrary, and two brothers, Denton McCrary and Charles McCrary.

He is survived by his sons, Tommy (Cherri) McCrary and Tim McCrary both of Readyville, a daughter, Terri (Neal) Barrett of Rossville, also surviving are nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren and a special friend and dancing partner, Shirley Philpott.

Dale, as he was known to most family and friends was a man who forged his own path in life and did things his way. The generation he grew up in was one that believed in using few words with great meaning. If they spoke, you should probably listen. He was raised on a farm in the middle of the Great Depression, surviving those times helped him to become very self-sufficient and independent.

He graduated from Murfreesboro Central High School with the class of 1952. Around that time, the Korean war was raging. He served in the Army in the later stages of the Korean War but thankfully did not have to leave the states to go into battle. Shortly after his first son, Tommy, was born, he left the military. Seeking other ways to earn a living. He found his niche in the electrical field. He started out in the trades as an electrician, but soon found his skills were better in the sales department of the electrical components field. He worked for many years with Neal‘s Electric and Harris Electric as a sales rep.

He had a great affinity for the outdoors. It was sure if he wasn’t working, he was going to be spending time at Center Hill Lake or the surrounding area hunting, fishing, and camping. His family recalled that nearly every weekend after the kids got out of school, the boat was hooked up and ready to head to the lake for a weekend in the great outdoors. If they had homework it would have to be done sitting at the picnic tables. This was a great incentive to finish quickly or at least let them think they were finished to be able to join the fun.

Dale also enjoyed sitting down to watch a good baseball game. One of the highlights of his life was getting to go to Cincinnati to watch a baseball game in person. This was the closest thing to a real vacation he ever took if you don’t count the weekends spent at Center Hill Lake. He didn’t leave his farming roots, as he got older either. He liked growing a vegetable garden and he got goats to raise, or if you asked his sons, he got goats for them to raise. In either case he wanted to carry on that family farming tradition. In his 80s, he found a new interest in life. Not one you would expect either he took up line dancing with the seniors at Silver Point. They enjoyed their time together and dancing the night away. He was also very fond of the friendships he made with the neighbors surrounding him. He treasured their time and care for him.

His mother died at an early age. The family did attend church together when he was young after that he did continue having a belief in God. Although he wasn’t what you would call “churched” sitting in a pew, wasn’t his style. Communing with God in his creation in nature was his version of church. He recently took the step to become baptized because he wanted to make sure his salvation was secure. The family can rest assured now, he did do it his way and is now dancing on those streets of gold with no cares.

Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 1-3 PM. Funeral services will follow in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel with Cheri Jobe officiating. Interment will follow in Thyatira Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to Gentiva Hospice or Thyatira Cemetery. Share condolences and stories at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com. Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Road, Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337. Because every life has a story.