Alice Olevia Mccrea

Alice Olevia McCrea, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, passed on Friday, October 1, 2021, at the age of 89. She was born January 5, 1932, in Ponchatoula, Louisiana to Viola 'Pecola' White Cooper and Leonard Cooper, both of St. Tammany Parish. (Alice was the fourth of five girls born to Leonard and Pecola, whose first child, a son was stillborn).

Alice was an exuberant person, noted for her style and wit, she was quick to laugh, of firm opinion, and ever ready with a fascinating story to tell.  During her life, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who found great pleasure and pride in her family, home, and beloved pets. 

Early life for Alice was very hard, when she was only 3 years old, during the era of post-Depression, as the country was in its recovery, Alice's mother died, leaving behind a husband and five little girls, ranging from age 12 years to just 18 months old.  Refusing to have his daughters separated, their father raised them himself with the help of oldest daughter Rebecca who was accomplished beyond her years. 

Alice attended Perrin, in Ponchatoula, LA, along with her other siblings. After finishing school at Perrin, she went to live with oldest sister Rebecca in Mobile Alabama where she attended high school at Miss Jo All Girls Private School.

It was there in Mobile, she met the love of her life, Samuel McCrea II. They would go on to marry and be together for sixty years until his death.  After marriage her travels began for she became a military wife.  She found herself calling places home such as Oklahoma, California, New Jersey, and even Germany. Her many experiences and friendly inquisitive nature fueled her favorite pastime of storytelling to the young and old. It was like taking a trip through Alice's eyes.

After living many years in Northern California, she and her husband moved back to Ponchatoula and later built their dream home which she designed.

Alice is survived by her son, Samuel 'Sammy' McCrea III, and her grandson, Samuel 'Tony' McCrea IV, her sister Catherine Cooper Anderson; her nieces Valerie Porter Ford, Linda Buchanan Chavers, Beverly Santee Anderson, Brenda Buchanan Vega; her nephews Ronald Santee, Sylvester Santee, Allen Santee, Morris Burton, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel McCrea, her sisters, Rebecca's Burton, Mildred Santee, Ethel Porter, and Marie Buchanan, both parents, Viola White Cooper and Leonard Cooper.

Visitation for Family and Friends will be on Friday, October 15, 2021 from 5:00 pm until8:00 pm at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home, 2000 N. Morrison Blvd., Hammond, Louisiana 70401. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 16,2021, from 9:00 am until the Funeral Service begins at 11:00 am in the Funeral Home Chapel.

Alice will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Samuel McCrea at Holly Gardens Cemetery, Hammond, Louisiana

Alice was greatly loved, will be dearly missed, and never forgotten.

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