L. Joanne McCready, 86, of Ashland passed away Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, 2016, at Samaritan Medical Center in Ashland following a short illness.

Joanne was born in Vermillion Township on Aug. 26, 1929, to Grant and Rhoda (ne Fickes) McCready and was the youngest of 10 children.

She has been a resident of the Ashland area all of her life and graduated from Ashland High School in the class of 1947.

She worked for Ohio Edison Co. for 41 years.

She was a member of Grace Brethren Church and Ohio Edison Breakfast Group. She was a former member of Ashland Business and Professional Women, Council on Aging Line Dancers and Katatawa Squaws Homemaker Club.

She is survived by her sister, June Wateska of Peotone, Illinois; her brother-in-law, Stanley Camp of Ashland; 28 nieces and nephews, 53 great-nieces and great-nephews and several great-great-nieces and nephews.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Glorene (W. Franklin) Gebhart, Ada (Harry) Smeltzer, Mabel (Marlowe) Boyd, Esther Raubenolt, Marjorie (Jack) Ostrander and Lois Camp; her brothers, Hugh (Miriam Smith) McCready and Warren Grant McCready; and a brother-in-law, Ted Wateska.

Joanne was raised in a family of love, faith and laughter and was a beloved sister and aunt.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, with Pastor Dale Smeltzer officiating. Burial will be in Vermillion Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in Joanne's memory may be made to the Great Rivers Affiliate, American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15120, Chicago, Illinois 60693-5120.

For those not able to attend, online expressions of sympathy may be made to the family by visiting denbowfh.com. (T-G 02/18/16)