Chris McCray

Services for Chris McCray will be held Friday, October 18th, 2024 at Memorial Funeral Home. Chris's Visitation will be held at 10 AM – 11 AM and a Funeral Service at 11 AM. Chris will be laid to rest next to that of her late husband, Tommy McCray, in Millersburg Cemetery.

Chris was born on May, 28, 1943 in the Big Apple, Manhattan, a borough of New York, the daughter of Paul Peter Bonamarte and Irene (Kernathan) Bonamarte. On February 12, 1988, she was united in marriage to Tommy “Weekender” McCray who passed away in 2006.

Chris was a woman with multiple unique interests. A mother, daughter, wife, widow, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. She had many adventures in life and created grand memories everywhere she went. Chris was a cosmetologist, owned and operated a hair and tanning salon for many years. She was a proud advocate for women’s rights, including helping establish early support for the local Planned Parenthood office. She was all about doing good things for the community and her fellow woman. In the early 70’s, Chris became active in the community, helping to form a local chapter of Zero Population Growth. In addition, with club members, she participated in the first glass recycling drive in the city, and was supportive of local efforts to continue recycling of glass and aluminum, long before it was taken up by Columbia.

Chris was always willing to discuss new political topics, and listen to other opinions. She was one to discuss and learn, rather than disagree and argue. She always said “Everyone has a great point to make you just need to listen.” Later in life she earned a Master’s Degree and became a professor at William Woods University. Chris loved to be a promoter of the arts, sharing new experiences with her children and grandchildren such as going to an art museum, seeing a foreign film at RagTag, or traveling to Chicago/St. Louis for the latest Broadway play. Among all things Chris was known for her independence, she made it a point to learn new languages, master the latest and greatest application/smart device (sometimes phoning a family member to help with small things), and take the on the world one trip at a time all while being legally blind and color blind. She was known from her dancing skills with her late husband, McCray. She was an avid reader who was always recommending a good book to even a stranger! She took pride in being with her family and spending the holidays cooking together.

Chris McCray is survived by her three children: Lisa Smith (Dennis); Laura Lewis (William); Thomas Paul Seeger; her three grandchildren: Samantha Smith; Rebecca Geeding (Phillip); Meagan Higgins (Blane); one great grandson: Chase Montgomery, son of Rebecca Geeding; her siblings: Judy Falanga (Tony); Renee Rebecchi (John); Paul Bonamarte; Jimmy Petruso and a collective of nieces and nephews. Chris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and one sister, Ann LoSasso.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Central Missouri at sharefoodbringhope.org.