David E. McCracken

The Reverend David E. McCracken, pastor at the First Congregational Church in Sonoma for 20 years, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2017 at Sonoma Serenity Home, where he had been receiving wonderful, loving care since January 2017. Born to Cecil and Christine McCracken, David grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa and attended schools there. During high school (Class of 1954), he was an "Honor Thespian" in the National Thespian Society, and played his clarinet in a quartet with the Grammy award-winning Everly Brothers. He went on to study at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1956. David then moved to California and received a bachelor's degree in 1959 from the University of Redlands where he majored in speech and drama, followed by a Master of Divinity degree in 1962 from Berkeley Baptist Divinity School .He was ordained in 1962, and then served as a pastor in churches in San Pablo, Hayward, Pacific Beach, Modesto and El Dorado, before accepting a call to First Congregational Church in Sonoma in 1984. He served there as pastor until he retired in 2004. During his residency in Sonoma, following his desire to help people in need, he was involved in many community services, including SOS (Sonoma Overnight Shelter), FISH (Friends in Sonoma Helping), and the WillMar Center for Bereaved Children. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Congregation Shir Shalom; by inviting people of the Jewish faith to share the Congregational Church facilities, David helped the group establish on ongoing presence at the church. He also loved to sing, and for many years, added his tenor voice to the Vintage Singers and the Sonoma Valley Chorale. David is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Judy, his brother John, his adoring children, Beth (Kent) Marjerison, Philip (Barbara) McCracken and J'Amy (Hayder) McCracken, their mother Carol McMillan, and three grandchildren, Grace Lagerstrom, Morgan Marjerison and Sabiha Salem. He also relished his time with Judy's three children and six grandchildren. And he will be sorely missed by the hundreds of parishioners whom he served during his 42 years of ministry. A service of remembrance will be held on Sunday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Sonoma - 252 Spain Street, Sonoma, California In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David's name to: First Congregational Church of Sonoma, Covenant Presbyterian Church of Napa, Hospice-by-the-Bay of Sonoma, or Vintage House of Sonoma.

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