Joseph McNally, Sr

Dr. Joseph Francis McNally, Sr was born November 14, 1926 in Scituate, Rhode Island. In the early morning hours of March 4, in his own bed and with his family about him, the Patriarch of the McNally family was welcomed home. Dr. McNally was the only child born to his parents, Joseph Patrick McNally and Margaret Dempsey McNally, both first generation Irish- Americans with little formal education. Thru their hard work and sacrifice, the American dream was realized in their son who graduated from LaSalle High School going on to Providence College and finally Georgetown Medical School achieving the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1952. In 1947 he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Grace Wolfenden, an only child herself. In 1954, Dr. McNally joined the United States Air Force Medical Corps where he received training in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Therapy. At the same time, he discovered a lifelong love of flying, also training to be a Flight Surgeon. He with his wife, Barbara, and with a steadily increasing number of children, were stationed first at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas, then at Fort Sam Houston/ Brooke Army Hospital, San Antonio, then overseas to Tachikawa Air Force Base, Japan from 1959-1962. They made many lifelong friends where ever they were stationed but always thought that Tachikawa had been the most rewarding. On returning to the U.S. Dr. McNally was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio where he was the Chief of Service. The next year he was discharged with honor from the Air Force having achieved the rank of Major. In August of that year, he moved his family, now with 8 children, to Corsicana, Texas to go into private practice with Dr. Bernard Rosen. He and his wife bought a small ranch which they named Sweetbriar and there the McNally family flourished. It was there that Dr. McNally also discovered an interest in ranching, raising his prized Simmental cattle. Dr. McNally sometimes jokingly said that he raised two crops at Sweetbriar--good cattle and good kids. Dr. McNally was a fervent believer in Faith, Family and Education--in that order. He was a devoted Roman Catholic and instilled in his family the importance of Faith as the Bedrock of life. He supported many worthwhile causes generously and quietly through out his life. He practiced Radiology for many years in Corsicana, finally retiring at the age of 72. He always considered the care of the sick to be a sacred duty and felt honored to have been called to serve as a physician. The light of his life, his beloved redheaded wife Barbara, preceded him in death September 15, 2011. His living legacy includes his 8 children: Dr. Joseph F. McNally, Jr and wife Sandy of Corsicana, Maureen Barto and husband Bernie of Corsicana, Dr. Rosemary McCoy and husband Dr. Medford McCoy of Dallas, Jayne McNally of Watauga, Elizabeth Scirto and husband Mark of Tyler, Mark McNally and wife Nancy of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, John McNally and wife Marlene of Houston and Robin Colvin and husband Joseph of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He also had 23 grandchildren of whom he was so proud and 31 great grandchildren, the newest addition born only four days before his death- a little redheaded baby girl. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Visitation 6-7pm Thursday March 10 Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Corsicana Texas with the Holy Rosary to follow at 7pm there. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am Friday, March 11, 2016 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Corsicana, Texas with Father Jason Cargo officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons and sons-in-laws, Joseph McNally Jr, Mark McNally, John McNally, Medford McCoy, Bernard Barto, Joseph Colvin and Mark Scirto. In lieu of flowers, memorials to: James Collins Catholic School, Hope Center and or Mary Petersen Daycare Center.

Joseph McNally, Sr

November 14, 1926 - March 4, 2016