Shelby  County  Indiana
Obituaries

McCracken

Freeman  Funeral  Home
Shelbyville, Indiana
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Martha Karen Davis McCracken
Jan 9, 1942 - May 10, 2026
----------           Martha Karen (Davis) McCracken  went home to be with Jesus, Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Ashford Place Health Campus.  She was born in a blue house across the street from the Kopper Kettle in Morristown, Indiana on a very cold January 9, 1942, to  Richard F. & Marjorie L. (Gunning) Davis.  She joined sisters  Judith Ann Davis (deceased) and  Shirley Ann (Davis) Jolliff.  She and Shirley moved to Shelbyville at the ages of 3 and 4 after the passing of their mother, where they lived with their grandmother, Carrie (Gallimore) Gunning.
          She attended Major school, Shelbyville Junior High School, and was in the first class to graduate from the current Shelbyville Senior High School building in May 1960. While in junior high, she met her best friends, LouAnn (Worland) Anspaugh and Kaye (Smith) Warren. The three of them continued their friendship and enjoyed many trips together over the years. After her grandmother went to take care of family during Martha’s final years of high school, Vern and Lillian (Mickey) Bastin took Martha into their home and treated her as their own. Their relationship continued until Mickey’s passing in 2004.
          Martha began working at the age of 14 at Alex' Frost Top on Old 421. She then began working at Chicken & Steak, where she not only met Mickey, but Jerry, her husband of almost 63 years. She also met Joe and Marge Risley and began working for them at Risley' Kitchens, where she remained for over 30 years, becoming part-owner in the last few years. She went on to work for 5/3 Bank, H&R Block, Freeman Family Funeral Home and Forest Hill Cemetery to support her shopping addiction and golf trips with the girls. Many memories were made over 40 years in North Webster and on many Northern Indiana golf courses with Janet P., Millie W., Norma T., Nancy D., Mary Pat W., and Fredonna M.
          Martha and Jerry wed on April 21, 1962 at First Christian Church, Shelbyville. She became a member of FCC and was very true in her faith. She held many positions over the years, including past board President, Elder and Deacon. She also volunteered around the church with Vacation Bible School, in the office, and as a greeter on Sunday mornings. She was a member of Group 4 and later of the Disciples Women' Group, with whom she worked rummage sales with Bonnie H., Beth C., and Judy A., and organized many dinners and celebrations over her 60-year membership.
          When Martha & Jerry started dating and later married, she became friends with Jerry' friends. One friendship, in particular, lasted the test of time. That friendship was with Bob and Gay C. Many nights were spent with Bob, Gay, and their two boys at their Knightstown Road home. Later, after they moved to Ohio and had their third son, Martha and Marci would visit every summer so the kids could grow up together and enjoy summers on Lake Erie and at Cedar Point.
          Over her 84 years, Martha was active in many organizations around Shelbyville and Shelby County. She was a member of Psi Iota Xi, where her cheeseball recipe that started as a fundraiser over 40 years ago has now become a holiday staple in not only houses around our community, but the state. She was also a member of P.E.O., where she held the positions of president, vice-president, chaplain, secretary, and guard. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and served on the board for SCUFFY and Girls, Inc. She was the recipient of the 2016 Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Shelby County Community Lifetime Achievement Award.
          As you can see, Martha was quite active in her earlier years, but in her spare time, if she wasn’t on the golf course, she could be found with Liana S. and Janet C. The three of them, along with their spouses, could be found at one of their homes with a glass of wine, great food, and many laughs.
          Martha is survived by her daughter, Marci Hungerford, and husband, Mace; stepson, Mike McCracken, and wife, Lyn; granddaughters, Morgan Hungerford,  Madigan Hungerford,  Rachel Kowallis, and husband, Kory, and  Natalie Crump,  and husband Janson; grandsons Daniel McCracken, and wife, McKenna, Jared McCracken, and Nick McCracken, and wife Anja; great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Grey, and Milo Kowallis, Maverick, Brooks, and Lennon McCracken, Theo Crump, and Scottie McCracken; sister, Shirley Jolliff; niece, Debbie Hampton; nephew, Chris Leffler, and wife, Chloe. She is also survived by many friends who were like family, as mentioned above. She was proceeded in death by her biological parents, adoptive parents; sister, Judith Ann Davis; grandson, Jonathan McCracken; and nephew, Mark Leffler.
          Martha' family would like to thank all the friends and family who made many visits over the years as she was no longer able to leave the house. You truly made life better for her. A special thank you to Infinity Home Care for the care you gave to Martha over the past year and a half. Charlotte, you are an angel who walks among us. She loved you dearly. Kylie, Andrea, and all the nurses with Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, thank you for the care and comfort you brought Martha during these past few weeks. We were blessed to have you not once, but twice, to care for her. To the staff at Ashford Place, thank you all so much. I know she was quite feisty and tested everyone' patience for a few weeks, but you treated her as your own family, and that did not go unnoticed. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. You helped to make her final time here on earth as peaceful as could be.
          Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 15, 2026, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville and from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the First Christian Church, 118 W. Washington St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m., Saturday, at the church, with the Reverends Ralph Botte and Bill Horner officiating. Online condolences may be shared with Martha' family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelbyville  News
Friday, August 16, 1996
----------           James "Mac" McCracken Jr.,  74, St. Paul, died at 2 p.m. Thursday at Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis.  Born April 22, 1922, in Shelbyville, he was the son of  James J. and Madge I (Wood) McCracken.  One October 30, 1942, he married  Gertrude (Soper) McCracken,  who survives in St. Paul.
          Mr. McCracken returned to this are in 1970 from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Mr. McCracken served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, including during World War II.  He was a member of Moose Lodge 2118, Shelbyville, and the American Legion and Eagles Lodge, both of Greensburg.  In 1989, Mr. McCracken retired from his job as a salesman at Jackson Office Supply, Greensburg.
          Other survivors include two sons,  James R. McCracken,  Amity, and  Wayne J. McCracken,  Indianapolis; a stepmother,  Beatrice McCracken,  St. Paul; a sister,  Mrs. Don (Kathryn) Hasecuster,  St. Paul; three half brothers,  Roger McCracken,  St. Paul,  Steven McCracken,  Mooresville, and  Ronald McCracken,  Greensburg; one half-sister,  Patty Margison,  Indianapolis; two granchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one daughter.
          Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Glenn E. George Funeral Home, St. Paul.  Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Robert Jackson officiating.  Burial will be in Paul Hill Cemetery, St. Paul.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Republican
Thursday, April 18, 1912
Page 2 column 3
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MRS. NEWTON  MCCRACKEN
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          Mrs. Newton McCracken, aged thirty-seven years, died at her home in Rayville this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, her death being quite sudden. Mrs. McCracken lost her five-days-old babe a few days ago, and this might have been partly the cause of her death. The deceased was the daughter of the late James L. Brown, formerly sheriff of Shelby county and one of the best known men in the county. Stewart & Fix were called to make preparations for the funeral and burial, time and place to be announced later.

Ibid.
Friday April 19, 1912
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          The funeral services of the late Mrs. Newton McCracken, who died Thursday afternoon, will be held Saturday afternoon in the Little Blue River Baptist church in Union township, the cortege leaving this city at 12:30 o'clock. The Rev. J.T. Scull, Sr., will officiate. The deceased died very suddenly while seated in a chair at her home. The interment will be in the Bennett cemetery in charge of Stewart & Fix.

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Decatur County Indiana Marriages
Alice Carrie Brown  &  Newton McCracken
January 15, 1895
Book N,  page 452
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Submitted by Barb Huff

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