Mary J McCredie

Mary Josephine McCredie, of Ojai, passed away on August 14, 2013. She was born in the Indian Ocean, aboard the British ship, T.S. Demosthenes, and was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Darwin C. McCredie, and daughter Anne L. McCredie.

British by birth and then raised in Australia, Mary met her future husband, Col. McCredie, in Australia during World War II. Together they raised their five children in Malibu and Camarillo, and then retired to Ojai in 1980.

Although she enjoyed traveling in earlier years, Mary loved her Ojai home, with its lush gardens and well-tended orange orchard. She was an avid bird watcher who took great care to fill the feeders on her property. Tireless, irrepressible, strong-willed and very funny, Mary was always ready with a descriptive tale about life in Australia.

Mary will be sorely missed by Benito and Eva Vega and Rosa Lujano, who were her dear friends, and soul mates in the home and garden. With a great penchant for rainbow sherbet and chocolate ice cream, she was a regular at Starr and Vons markets, and was fond of all the checkers at both stores.

Mary is survived by daughter Christine Caputo and son-in-law George Caputo; sons, Darwin “Buzz” McCredie and Mark McCredie; daughter and son-in-law, Gail McCredie and Eugene Massion; grandchildren, Michael, Randy and Stephanie Caputo, Gretchen Soderlund, Jack and Renata Massion; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Susan Hancock and Helen Emmett of Brisbane, Australia.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.