William "Bill" Robert McCracken, born June 27th, 1926, in Yuma County, CO to James Alva "Mac" and Goldie Cleo McCracken, passed away at the Fort Morgan Hospital in the early morning hours of November 12, 2024.

Mac and Goldie, along with their 10 children, moved all over Northeastern CO, before finally, in 1943, settling down on a quaint little farm, just north of Snyder, CO. That's where Bill would meet his future wife, Doris Faye Kuck, the love of his life. He was a junior in high school attending a basketball game when he caught Doris's eye. "I'm going to marry that man" she thought to herself, but on December 15th, 1944, before Bill could graduate high school, he was drafted into the Army and stationed at Camp Walters in Texas as a draftee for basic training.  He trained as an Information and Education Officer and a Central Post Funds Supply Clerk but as the war was ending, he was discharged in May of 1946 as a Sgt. That same month, just after enlisting in the Air Force, Bill and Doris wed, on May 12. 1946 before being sent to and stationed at Lowry AFB for the closing of Buckly Field.

That same year, Bill was discharged from the Air Force where he returned home to Snyder to continue his love of farming and by the time Bill and Doris moved to Fort Morgan, seven years later in 1953, they had Rick, Dennis and Sandy.

By November 1954, they welcomed Rusty, their fourth child to the family but tragically though, in 1956, Rusty would pass away at the young age of 18 months and it wouldn't be until December of 1961 when they would welcome their fifth child, David, followed by Cheri in March of 1964 and finally, their last child, Brian in October of 1968.

Bill had owned and sold several farms on Bijou Hill and in 1973, the family moved to the North farm where Bill would reside until his passing.

If you had the pleasure of knowing Bill McCracken, you knew just how tough this man would prove to be. He wasn't afraid of hard work. Take for instance in October of 1989 when a truck rolled off the jack and onto his head while he was underneath. Anyone would have given up in that moment and rightly so, but what did Bill McCracken do? He got up, walked into the house and washed his hands. Doris with a look or horror and most likely in a state of shock, made him go to the Dr, who then sent them to the hospital, where Dr's would place a metal plate and screws in his head. If you ever wondered where Bill got his hard head from or if you ever thought he just might have a screw lose... well there you go. Not even a big old truck could stop him.

Or what about the time when Bill was at the neighbors working on a PTO shaft where it pinched the tip of his finger off but again, what did Bill McCracken do?? Well I don't know, my guess is he just kept working until Doris, again, made him go to the hospital.

I don't think the surprise factor ever went away for Doris in their 67 years of marriage, however, anytime Bill walked into the house when it wasn't for breakfast lunch or dinner, she knew.... they might be making another trip to the hospital. But if you ever wondered the strength of a hardworking man... just look at his hands... not even a PTO Shaft could stop him.

I can't name every time the man had injured himself, if I did, well... we might be here all day, but just to give you one more example of just how tough this man was, two years ago at 96 years old, Bill McCracken was on his tractor near the ditch on his property, clearing the dirt that Dozer had missed. You know Bill McCracken, if it's not done Bill's way, it's not right. The tractor caught a soft patch of dirt and his tractor, along with him on it, slid backwards into the ditch, full of running water... what did Bill McCracken do? He crawled out, walked into the house and took a shower..No, Bill McCracken wasn't one to shy away from hard work, even if that meant looking death right in the face at any given moment. The man was fearless, but if you ever wondered about the steadfastness of a hardworking man, just take a look at how deep his faith is, because not even the fear of death could stop him.

There are no shortage of stories about how remarkable, and kind and generous and stubborn Bill McCracken was, but in conclusion, I will leave you with this, besides the love he had for his family, hard work and farming, Bill most enjoyed sharing his faith in the Lord as a Gideon passing out candy bars and Bibles hoping to share the love of the Lord with everyone he met, you know Bill, he never met a stranger. He played softball until the hearty age of 90 and always showed up to support his community. He made sure that he made it to every Weldon Valley game, and he wasn't only Weldon Valley's number one fan. He was Morgan County's number one fan.

This man, Bill McCracken created a legacy that will forever be the heartbeat of this community.

Bill McCracken was preceded in death by his parents, Mac and Goldie, wife, Doris, children Rick, Dennis, Sandy and Rusty and grandson Ricky

Bill McCracken is survived by his last remaining three children, David (Bonnie); Cheri (Dean) and Brian (Laura); his 20 grandchildren, Cindy, Rodney, Roger, Lori, Emily, JJ, Mike, Derrick, Matthew, Michelle, Falon, Brittany Amie, Spencer, Abbie, Rachael, Denae, Delbert, Dylan and Tyler; his38 Great Grand Children: Caitlyn, Dax, Jake, Sawyer, Carly, Shelby, Seth, Zoe, Slater, Asa, Hannah, Caleb, Cameron, Hunter, Andre, Brodie, Pyper, Daemon, Mercy, Ellie, Ryleigh, Justus, Colton, Corbin, Asher, Addison, Avery, Lily, Gracelynn, Evelyn, Brooklyn, Cru, Killian, Remmington, Paysen, Caden, Noah and Liam; and his 8 Great-Great Grandchildren: Will, Wyatt, Andrew, Wade, Weston, Joan, Clyde and Graham.

A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held in the gymnasium at Weldon Valley School, 911 North Ave. in Weldona on Saturday, November 23rd at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Fort Morgan.

Visitation will be held the evening prior to the service, Friday, November 22nd  at the Heer Mortuary in Fort Morgan from 5 – 7 PM