Neuse News

View Original

Obituary: William Douglas Creech, Sr.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS CREECH, SR

SNOW HILL: Mr. William Douglas “Doug” Creech Sr, age 81, passed away Saturday morning, October 19, 2024, at his residence in Greene County, North Carolina, surrounded by his wife and children. Born May 11, 1943, he was the son of Ray Ralph Creech and Lucy Parks Creech.

Doug was raised on the family farm south of Snow Hill and was a graduate of the former Snow Hill High School. He continued his post-secondary education at East Carolina University where he completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies, earning a master’s in business administration.

Doug enjoyed a career of 36 years with E.I. DuPont where he was a cost engineer focusing on the auditing and compliance of construction contracts and projects. Following his retirement from DuPont, he affiliated with the former Carolinas Health System for several years continuing a career in auditing and cost management before establishing himself as an independent consultant where his clients included the University of California System. Doug’s organized and meticulous manner served him well throughout his long career. In 2013, he fulfilled a longtime desire to return to the family farm in Greene County where he and his wife constructed a home surrounded by the land and fields he had roamed and tilled as a child.

Doug is survived by his wife of 53 years, MaryAnn Rickards Creech of the home; daughter, Sarah Creech Shearer and husband, Brian of Greensboro; son, William Douglas Creech, Jr. and wife, Jennifer McQueen Creech of Charlotte; grandchildren, James M. Shearer of Greensboro, Loma Ash of Charlotte, and Angus Ash of Raleigh; and numerous nieces and nephews of the Creech and Rickards families.

In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by a sister, Berry Creech Pittman; and brothers, Roy Ralph Creech Jr, Robert L. Creech, and George Warren Creech.

Funeral Services will be held by the grave side 11 AM Wednesday, October 23rd, at the Mewborn Family Cemetery (450 Mewborn Cemetery Road, Snow Hill, NC).

The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5 – 7 PM at Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service and other times at the Creech residence.

In lieu of flowers, it was Doug’s desire that memorials be considered in memory of his nephew, Al Reams who suffered from Cerebral Palsy, to the Cerebral Pasly Foundation, (donate.cerebralpalsyfoundation.org) or to assist with deserving students of UNCG who have unmet financial needs by donating to the Minevra Rescue Grant at the University of North Carolina c/o Advancement Operations, UNCG, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27403 or online at www.giving.uncg.edu

Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.taylor-tyson.com