SPARTA – Margaret M. McCree, 83 of Sparta, passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the St. Anthony Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Margaret was born on November 17, 1933, in St. Genevieve, Missouri, the daughter of Edgar and Caroline (Herzog) Pinkely. She married Frank E. McCree on August 4, 1951 in Sparta, and they shared 65 years of marriage. Margaret was a homemaker, and a member of the Our Lady of the Lourdes Catholic Church in Sparta, and the St. Ann's Altar Sodality.

Margaret is survived by her husband; Frank E. McCree, of Sparta, children; Mike and Vicki McCree, of Jackson, TN, Larry and Sharon McCree, of Paragould, AR, Sue and Darrel Stein, of Salem, IL, Judy Koonce, of Sparta, and Julie Hanna, of Sparta. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren, and 1 great great granddaughter.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, 1 infant brother, 1 sister; Bernacline Snodgrass, and 1 granddaughter; Jamie Lee Hanna.

Funeral mass will be held at 10 AM, Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Sparta, with Father John C. Agbasiere officiating, and burial will follow at Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be held Monday evening at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, with a rosary at 7:30 PM, and then on Tuesday morning from 7:30 to 9:15 AM. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus.