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Father John J. McCrearty, S.S.J., who served as a pastor of parishes in six states, died Dec. 1. He was 87.
Father McCrearty, who was a pastor in Gulfport, Miss., at the time of his death, was the oldest active pastor in the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, or the Josephites. Over the years, he also was a pastor in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Virginia and Delaware.
Born in Kilkar County, Donegal, Ireland, he entered the Josephites in 1958 and began studies at Epiphany Apostolic College in Newburgh. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1968.
His survivors include several cousins in New York City.
A Funeral Mass was offered Dec. 6 at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Gulfport. Burial took place the following day in the parish cemetery at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Breaux Bridge, La.
