Sept. 4, 1948 — April 18, 2016

William “Willie” McCraner, 67, of Beverly Hills, Florida, previously of Niles and Dowagiac, passed away at his home on Monday, April 18, 2016, following an extended illness.

He was born on Sept. 4, 1948, in Dowagiac, to James N. McCraner and Charlotte (Biek) Miller, who are both now deceased.

Willie served for more than nine years in the U.S. Army, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. He worked as an armed security guard for many years, retiring after several years at Madison Center in South Bend. On Jan. 1, 1997, he married Jacqueline A. Hilligoss in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

In addition to both parents, Willie was also preceded in death by one brother, James Michael McCraner.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Jacqueline McCraner, of Beverly Hills; three daughters, Tracy Hosbien, of Dowagiac, Tamra Spencer, of Kodak, Tennessee, and Jamie McCraner, of Galien, Michigan; one step-daughter, Ashley Hilligoss, of Niles; a brother, Tom Cline of Dowagiac; three sisters, Lynette (Mike Golden) Hunter of Yucaipa, California, Sharon (Lloyd) Tabbert, of Clearwater, Florida, and Lisa (James) Padgett of Lakeland, Florida; nine grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens with burial to follow. Visitation will be one hour before services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Willie’s memory to The Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32266.