Virginia McCready

Virginia Saffell McCready of Alliance, Ohio, devoted wife, extraordinary mother, independent, cheerful and high-spirited life participant, passed away from natural causes at the age of 96, in Sebring, Ohio on February 4, 2021. She was a godsend and a blessing to many people throughout her lifetime.

Virginia (Jini) was born on March 2, 1924 on Sidewood Farm, north of Homeworth, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Byron McCready (1979), her parents Byron Edgar Saffell (born North Georgetown, Ohio) and Isabel Anderson Saffell (born Bolivar, Missouri), and her esteemed brother Dr. John Edgar Saffell (Helen Weaver) of Homeworth, Ohio.

Jini attended the Alliance Public Schools. Her father, Byron, was school principal and they drove from the family farm in Homeworth to Alliance in all kinds of weather on unpaved roads. She graduated in 1942 and was awarded “The Outstanding Senior” and delivered her “senior theme” at the high school commencement. She attended the University of Mount Union in Alliance, graduating 1946, the school’s Centennial Class. She was active with the Tri Delta Sorority and was the Treasurer for the Mount Union Football Stadium. Jini majored in Economics and was honored with “The Economics Prize” at her college commencement.

Jini and Ross Byron McCready were married on July 2, 1949 after Ross returned from his service with the United States Army as a paratrooper in the Los Banos Prison Liberation with the 11th Airborne. Ross was decorated with a Purple Heart and a Silver Star and subsequently graduated from Yale University with a major in mechanical engineering. Jini was a silent weapon behind Ross’s entrepreneurial engineering ventures. Ross, along with Klaus Forster, established The Kerma Corporation. Kerma designed and patented cranes for domestic and international firms and was subsequently purchased by its competitor, The Alliance Machine Company. Ross, along with coinvestors from Northeast Ohio, founded Valley Forge Inc. in Salem, Ohio, a cold-forging operation for the U.S. transportation industry, where, in addition to being a co-owner, he was also President. At the passing of Ross at the age of 55, Jini became occupied with the trust department of United Bank on the square in Alliance. She continued to be very active with the Delta Nu chapter of Delta Delta Delta and was treasurer of the alumni group. For countless years she served on the Altar Guild at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Jini was very active with the Alliance Women’s Club, the Alliance Republicans Club, the YWCA, the Coterie Society, the Alliance Historical Commission, the Alliance Community Hospital Auxiliary, and the University of Mount Union Alumni Association. She was a lifelong member of The Alliance Country Club. She lived many years independently at Copeland Oaks and relished her time there with the beautiful grounds and setting, and their terrific staff. Jini had joy, laughter, lots of friends and parties and dancing, and watched too many professional golf tournaments to count, all with her good friend Robert Gempler, (daughter Amy Novogratz).

She is survived by her three children John Byron McCready (Christine), James Ross McCready (Shari), both of Alliance, Ohio, and Mary Ann McCready (Jos. D. Pickslay Cheek, Jr.) of Nashville, Tennessee. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Chelsea McCready of Nashville, Anthony James McCready (Kaitlin) of Lakewood, Ohio, Dominique McCready of Alliance, Ohio, Alec Walker of Chicago, and great granddaughter Adele Lorraine McCready of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jini had many adventurous travel experiences. Jini and Ross flew their single engine airplane to Eleuthera, Aruba, Andros, Man-o-War, the Exumas, Nassau, and Grand Bahama Island where they were early land investors. She enjoyed trips to Sarasota, Austria, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Alaska, British Columbia, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, among them. She so enjoyed her innumerable visits to Nashville with her daughter and Roy Wunsch and made many friends and met talented music artists. Jini was warm, welcoming and made friends with everyone she met. The McCreadys are beholden to Dr. Richard Shivers for his steadfast compassion, generosity, and benevolence.

The family requests no flowers. Memorial donations may be made to The University of Mount Union for the benefit of McCready Hall, c/o 1972 Clark Avenue, Alliance, Ohio, 44601, or to Trinity Episcopal Church at 1200 South Union Avenue, Alliance, Ohio, 44601.

A private service will be held graveside at the McCready Cemetery in Leetonia, Ohio. Thank you to John Christian and Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Services in Alliance for your grace and professionalism.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 South Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601.