Lynda Clydell McCray Gilcrease

Lynda Clydell McCray Gilcrease, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025 at age 75. She endured an eight-month battle with lymphoma and ultimately succumbed to complications of treatment. Lynda was born in Dallas, Texas on October 21, 1949, the second of four children to Betty Faye and Clyde Edward McCray. She graduated from Kimball High School in 1967 and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she worked part-time in the President's Office for pocket money. She claimed it was the best job she ever had. After graduation, she moved to San Antonio where she raised her three children while working for the State of Texas in the Department of Health and Human Services as Chief Investigator in the Fraud Division. She retired from the State at age 50 and never looked back. 

Lynda loved her family and friends deeply. She was an avid dog lover and had a special place in her heart for the many dogs she owned over the years. Lynda was fun loving and enjoyed the outdoors, dancing, playing cards, taking ocean cruises, and baking the most beautiful and delicious pies. She never met a stranger. 

Her Happy Place was Southfork, Colorado where she enjoyed many summers in her riverside cabin with her husband Kenneth Gilcrease who predeceased her. Lynda's next move was to Sun City in Georgetown, Texas where she spent ten happy years. She met wonderful friends and lived there until 2024 when she moved to Mesa, Arizona to be closer to her children. 

Lynda is also predeceased by her parents including her beloved stepfather, Henry Janek; her grandparents Lily and Joe Chambers; her aunts, Doty, Lois and Charle and her Uncle Lester. 

Lynda is survived by her children, Brian Wilson of San Antonio, Texas, Kimberly Dee of Mesa, Arizona and Christopher Wilson of Prescott, Arizona; her siblings Carolyn (and Jerry) Sutton of Dallas, Texas, Pat McCray (and Tony Choban) of Austin, Texas and Clyde (and Schantile) McCray of Cleburne, Texas; her eight grandchildren, Jayden, Jacoby, Jagger, Shelby, Van, Kylie, Jovie and Ellie; her great granddaughter Olivia; and nieces and nephews, Jason, Mark, Kate, Robin, Bonnie, Clyde and Kendall. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Extended Family Care in Mesa, Arizona as well as the teams of doctors and nurses at Banner Gateway Hospital and M.D. Anderson in Gilbert, Arizona for the care Lynda received throughout her illness. Lynda was loved and will be forever missed.