Jack Creely, 87, a devoted community leader and tireless public servant, died Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at The Meadows. He was born February 8, 1929, in Lee County to Norman Jones and Minnie Bell Lee Creely. He graduated from Tupelo High School where he was a tuba player in the All State Lion’s Club Band. He attended both Itawamba Community College and Northwest Community College. He worked in many areas associated with automobiles in his early years. He started Creely Insurance, which later became Service Insurance, in 1962. He became a member of the ICDC in 1963 and served as president in 1980. He was elected mayor of the City of Fulton in 1981 and served a total of twelve years. He was instrumental in organizing the North Mississippi Kidney Foundation, where he served as president for eight years. He was a member of the Itawamba County Hospital Board for twelve years and was chairman of the port commission for eight years. He was an active member of the Fulton United Methodist Church since 1952. There he taught many Sunday School classes with his final class being the Wesley Sunday School Class. He served as Chairman of the Pastor Parrish Relations Committee, Finance Chairman, and Chairman of the Trustees. He, along with his wife Wilma, helped start the first United Way of Itawamba County. He assisted with the formation of the Itawamba County Habitat for Humanity.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, September 30, at the Fulton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Phillip Box, the Rev. Glyn Wiygul, and the Rev. James Price officiating. Tom Childs will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in the Itawamba Memorial Gardens. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Fulton in entrusted with the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wilma Creely, whom he married July 10, 1950; two daughters, Jack Marie Scrimpshire (Joe) of Daphne, AL, and Natalie Kline (Tommy) of Fulton; one son, Chris Creely (Pam) of Madison; nine grandchildren, Candi Lauderdale (Steve), Kim Cowart (Kacie), Kevin Cowart, Tom Kline (Staci), Matt Kline (Parker), Leah Richardson (Martin), Laura McWhirter (Mitch), Rachel Creely, and Jack Creely; fourteen great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Ronald Creely.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Minnie Creely; one brother, Leon Creely (Louise); and a nephew, Lee Creely.
Pallbearers will be Larry Pate, Steve Lauderdale, Marshall Sage, Rickey Riley, San Weatherford, Ted Weatherford, Ronald Creely, and Tommy Weatherford.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Wesley Sunday School Class and Jack’s coffee friends from Hardee’s.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fulton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 907, Fulton, MS 38843.
