Lloyd Wayne McCraney, 80 years old, died on January 12th 2017 at Tucson Medical Center due to heart complications.
Lloyd was a widower since 2011 when his wife of 50 years (Ethel Pearl McCraney) died of COPD. He leaves one son, James McCraney, and three daughters: Debra Bessanson, Elaine McCraney and Karen Bryant. Daughter Nora died in March of 1996. Lloyd also has 14 surviving grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren.
He was born in Silver City New Mexico to parents Ella Pauline and Daniel Rodney McCraney, May 17th 1937. The McCraneys moved to Globe Arizona when Lloyd was only three. Lloyd, or “Tucker” as friends and family called him became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Globe Miami High school, staying loyal to every high school reunion of his 1955 class until his death.
From high school Lloyd joined the U.S. Navy where he served aboard ship and saw the world. There he trained for his lifelong vocation as an electrician. After the Navy he took a job at Magma Copper Mine, furthering his education at night, and advancing in promotion to Electrical Supervisor where he stayed until he retired.
Not long after being honorably discharged, he met and married Ethel Pearl Jordan. Ethel was a beautiful divorcee with three small children. Instead of shying away from the responsibility of an instant family, Lloyd, who had always loved babies and little children stepped up to the challenge. His passion for children and family life was one of the main things that Ethel adored about him. Lloyd promised to take his new wife to visit her mother in Indiana at least every other year. That promise was faithfully kept, with the whole family taking road trips sometimes every year to Indiana until Ethel’s mother passed away.
Some of Lloyds other passions were camping, fishing, and hunting. In fact Lloyd is listed for his Coues deer trophy in Boone and Crocket magazine. Lloyds favorite pass time however, was having campfire picnics in the desert surrounded with music, family, and friends.
Lloyd will be laid to rest in Mammoth cemetery in Mammoth AZ next to his beloved wife Ethel, and daughter, Nora. The funeral will be held at Abbey Funeral Chapel in Tucson this Friday,
January 19th 2018