Lee William McCray, 78, of Princeton IN formerly of Owensville IN passed away on June 27, 2024, at Linda White Hospice House in Evansville IN. He was born to the late Merlin and Bernadine (Walker) McCray on August 30, 1945, in Washington IN.

Our father was a true, blue collar American hero. He lived the American dream through grit, hard work, perseverance, selfless service, and just being tough as nails. The same things that make our country great today. He absolutely treasured being an American and loved his country as it became one of the defining traits of his life. His prized achievement in life was his service to his country.

He joined the United States Army after high school and was almost immediately deployed to Vietnam. Lee completed his 1st tour and after returning home for a year, he volunteered for a 2nd tour in Vietnam as a member of the prestigious 101st Airborne where he served as a Jumpmaster. During his combat operations, Lee was wounded in the neck and awarded the Purple Heart award. He was also awarded the Bronze Star with a "V" designation for valor in combat operations. He was awarded the Bronze Star for selflessly risking his life to help other members of his unit.

It was determined later in life that Lee had been exposed to Agent Orange during his combat operations in Vietnam and the ailments of that exposure plagued him throughout his life. Lee returned home after his 2nd tour in Vietnam where he continued his military career until retiring after 22 years of honorable service.

Lee then carried on the family tradition of his father and grandfather and worked as a coal miner at the Wabash Mine for 27 years. For much of those years, he worked as a roof bolter which is known for being one of the most dangerous jobs in a coal mine. Later in life, Lee was diagnosed with Black Lung Disease from his service in the coal mines and suffered from this ailment until the time of his death.

Our father was known for speaking his mind and being as tough as they come. He overcame many obstacles and traumatizing life events but he never complained and always kept moving forward. He was a man's man, a patriot, blue collar to his core, and one tough SOB all the way until the day of his death.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Owensville, Masonic Lodge #231, Post Commander of American Legion #25, Post Commander of VFW #4276 in Mt Carmel, and a lifetime member of VFW Post # 2714 in Fort Branch.

Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by loving wife of 28 years, Faye Ann (Dowds) McCray.

Lee is survived by the mother of his children, Anna (Zimmer) McCray, Mt Carmel, IL; 4 children; Kelvin McCray, Corinth, Mississippi; Kristina (Jeffrey) Besing, Mt Carmel, IL; Kurtis (Leslie) McCray, Dorsey IL; Kendra McCray, Mt Carmel, IL; 7 grandchildren, Brandon and Justin Carpenter, Gavin Besing, Zoe and Kole McCray, Kurtis "KJ" McCray Jr. and Logan Ross. He is also survived by 1 sister, Ena Jo Pembelton, Bridgeport, IL.

Visitation for Lee will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch.

Masonic Services, Military Honors and Funeral Service will be held at Stodghill Funeral Home on July 3, 2024, at 12:00 P.M. with Masonic Lodge #231, Veterans of Gibson County and Pastor Bart Newton officiating. The burial will be at Wheatland Cemetery in Wheatland IN.

Donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in his honor.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at stodghillfuneralhome.com

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-213-6584
Web: http://www.stjude.org/memorial