Donald W. McCracken, 84, of Glendale Springs, died on July 15, 2015. Originally from Boone, he was a graduate of what is now Appalachian State University and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. Don was a retired .North Carolina State employee; during the course of his over-40-year career, he worked at some point in every one of North Carolina's 100 counties. Well into his retirement, Don remained actively involved in church activities and the State Employees Association of North Carolina. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marie McCracken; three daughters: Gay Murphy (Gary) of Boone, Jo Balcome (Thom) of Raleigh, and Donna Hines (Frank) of West Jefferson; his son, Mike McCracken (Jennifer) of Wynne, Arkansas; 8 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren, as well as his brother Jerry McCracken of Chesterfield, Virginia; his niece Julia McCracken of Raleigh, and his nephew Richard Butler of Boone. A memorial service for Don will be held at Glendale Springs Presbyterian Church on July 24, 2015, at 2:00.pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Glendale Springs Presbyterian Church or to the Ashe County Humane Society.