Joseph Donald "Joe" Cree

Joseph Donald “Joe” Cree, 95, of Pampa, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 28, 2022.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pampa, with Rev. Mark Lang, rector, officiating. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory. There will be a reception to follow in Parrish Hall immediately after the service.

Joe was born in Burbank, Oklahoma on January 16, 1927 to O.R. and Thelma Cree. They moved to Pampa, Texas in 1931 where Joe enrolled in the Pampa School System. As one of the first classes to use the new high school, Joe played football and basketball, serving as the team’s co-captain and team captain, respectively. Outside of sports, Joe served as class president during his sophomore, junior, and senior year. He graduated from Pampa High School in 1945, graduating early to serve his country in World War II.
After his service, Joe attended Texas Tech University where he graduated in 1950 with a degree in business administration. He continued his education at The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, receiving his Chartered Life Underwriter degree (CLU) in 1968 and his Chartered Financial Consultant degree (ChFC) in 1986.

Throughout his career, Joe received numerous professional awards. He was a life member of the prestigious Million Dollar Roundtable for 46 consecutive years. He also received the National Quality Award, the National Sales Achievement Award, and was appointed regional representative for the Texas Association of Life Underwriters.

Caring deeply for the betterment of Pampa, Joe served as President of the Pampa Country Club and President of the Community Concert Association, in addition to being a member of the Pampa Fine Arts Association, and a member of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce. Joe was also a member of the Pampa Masonic Lodge and the El Paso Scottish Rite Consistory.
In addition to his primary occupation, Joe co-founded the National Bank of Commerce in Pampa, co-owned NBC Plaza I and II in Pampa, and acted as an early speculator in a New Mexico ski-town that would later become Red River.

In 1946 Joe married his high school sweetheart, Joye Hale, and was happily married until her passing in 2002. Together they had three children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Joe is survived by his three children, Katie Cree of Pampa, Julie Harkins and husband Jerry of Dallas, and Kevin Cree and wife Terri of Pampa; six grandchildren, Meagan Cree of Austin, John Cree of Cumming, Georgia, Kathryn Stevens of Denver, Colorado, Christopher Harkins of Dallas, Ryan Harkins of Dallas, and Chase Cree of Dallas; and his three great-grandchildren, Halen, Harper, and Rome.

Joe is also survived by his longtime companion Kaye Roberts, of Pampa.
The family suggests memorials be sent to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pampa or a charity of their choice.