Charlotte Gean McCreary was born February 29, 1920, in Fort Towson, Oklahoma, to Lt. Bernard Gean and Pearl Cole Gean.  She died peacefully at home in her sleep on December 13, 2017. She has lived in Blythe since 1955.

Charlotte attended school in the south and graduated from high school in Wilson, Arkansas, in 1937.  She moved to Dodge City, Kansas to attend college and met Denton McCreary.  They were married on December 31, 1941.  They were married 72 years.  Denton died in 2013.

Charlotte and Denton have three daughters, Melinda Gail born in Dodge City, Kansas, Martha Gean born in Phoenix, Arizona and Peggy Colleen born in Mesa, Arizona.

As a full time mother and housewife, Charlotte returned to college completing her Bachelor of Arts at Arizona Sate University in 1962.  Later, she earned an MA from LaVerne University.

She was employed by the Palo Verde Unified School District for 30 years.  She worked for 18 years as a teacher at Ruth Brown School and 12 years as the coordinator for K-12 Migrant Education.  She retired in 1987.  She then began supervising student teachers for Cal State San Bernardino.

Charlotte's appreciation for the capacity of education to change one's life was a central theme throughout her career, and she relished sharing knowledge and encouraging young people to strive for something more than what was immediately in front of them.  She championed innumerable others to greater heights.  A former student said "I am most certainly not alone in reaping the benefits of the talents of this wonderful lady's wisdom, kindness and commitment.  I know of many situations where she went the extra mile and did so much more than what was necessary."

She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary educators organization.  She served as a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and the Palo Verde College Foundation Board, beginning in 1988.  She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College Foundation Board for her continued enthusiasm and involvement in the Palo Verde Valley.

She enjoyed botany, ornithology, entomology, playing bridge with friends, and trailering in the desert.  Charlotte was also a writer.  She wrote beautiful letters to friends and family and kept a daily journal.  Her knowledge for the flora and fauna in Blythe and the surrounding desert was legendary and she taught all of us the simple joys that can be found in desert wildflowers, and in watching hummingbirds flit about a newly formed bloom, and in the sun shining on her beloved Big Maria Mountains.

She is survived by her three daughters, Melinda Bates of Blythe, California, Martha Selfridge of Carpinteria, California, and Peggy Blum of Agoura, California.  She has four grandchildren, Matthew Keenan, Samuel Selfridge, Morgan Leonard and Eli Leonard and two great grandsons, Andrew Keenan and Liam Keenan.  She is also survived by two sisters and a brother:  Ouida Rellstad of New Orleans, Louisiana, Hilda Broten of Gig Harbor, Washington and Bernard Gean of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  Additionally, she is survived by  her sister-in-law Peggy Kozey, two nieces Karen Barch and Donna Browne, a great niece Kendra and a great great niece Finnlee.

Charlotte and Denton started the McCreary Family Scholarship Fund at Palo Verde College in 2002, in hopes of providing financial support to students.  Remembrances to the fund can be made in her name to Palo Verde College Foundation at One College Drive, Blythe, CA. 92225

Charlotte loved to read.  In lieu of flowers, a donation to Palo Verde District Library at 125 W. Chanslor Way, Blythe, CA. 92225, would be a wonderful contribution to her legacy as an educator, a proponent of knowledge, and her love of the written word.

A Celebration of her long life will be held on February 24, from 11:00 to 3:00 in the Student Services Center Rooms CS123, 24, at Palo Verde College.