2025ObituariesMelody Ann McCrary

Melody Ann McCrary, 81, of Denham Springs earned her wings on Saturday, January 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. She is now pain-free, walking on streets of gold and singing with the angels.

Melody was born on February 9, 1943, to Tommy and Phyllis Longino. They had married very young and divorced while he was in Africa during WWII. Phyllis soon remarried Travis Hunter and they raised Melody in Pampa, Texas. When she was a little older, she would visit her father by bus in the summertime in Baton Rouge. On one of those bus rides home, she met a young man headed to the Marines. His name was Billy McCrary and she had her first kiss. By the time they got to Dallas, she had a bunch of sugar and they parted ways. They wrote long distance for two years. She imagined him getting out and marrying her, so when he re-enlisted it broke her heart.

She then met Bill Simon on a blind date. His wit and humor soon won her over. They were married in June, 1960. While he was stationed at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, Melody got pregnant in the second month of marriage. It was hard times and money was tight, but it was good times too. Melody could make one roast last a week. When Bill was discharged from the Army, he and Melody took their 6-month-old daughter, Angela, to visit her dad and stepmother, Norma in Baton Rouge. They didn’t have gas money to get back home so they got jobs while Norma happily watched the baby. They soon fell in love with Baton Rouge and settled there. They added two sons to their family, Billy and Greg. Hard work paid off and after working hard and saving, they opened their own business. Life happens and Bill and Melody divorced in 1977.

Melody had fallen in love with a Nazarene and Jesus was his name. She moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas for a few years working at Fantastic Sams and holding home meetings. She moved back to Baton Rouge and opened her own business, Park Forest Beauty Shop. She continued home meetings. Soon she felt a call to pastor, so she sold her business and started Trumpet Christian Fellowship which she pastored for 17 years. In between all this, Melody traveled the world spreading the good news with fellow prophets and evangelists. She had a beautiful and anointed singing voice and loved singing for and to Jesus. In May 2011, she received a friend request on Facebook from William McCrary. It had been 53 years since she had met Billy on that bus years ago and by November she finally married him. She knew he had health problems, but it didn’t matter. They had quality over quantity for 3 years. She then moved in with her son, Greg for several years until his unexpected passing. Melody then moved in with her daughter, Angie until her final days.

Melody is preceded in death by her mother, Phillis Cook Hunter; father, Tommy O’Connor Longino; husband, William “Billy” Ray Simon (McCrary); her sons, Gregory “Greg” Scott Simon and Billy Simon.  She is survived by her brother, Doyle Ray Hunter (Connie) and family; daughter, Angela “Angie” Simon Swanford; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Ann Long, Heather Long Boudreaux (Jake), Rebekah Leann Strickland, Megan Nicole Swanford, William “Will” Michael Simon, and Adam Mitchell Simon. She had 9 great-grandchildren and many more family members and friends that she leaves behind.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday February 8, 2025 at 2:00. The Celebration of Life will be held at Life Church 9036 Flordia Blvd. Walker, LA 70785. Officiated by Brother David Smith. Reception to follow.