Juanita “Nita” Johnson McCracken, 87, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

Nita was born in Flippin, Arkansas, on September 24, 1938, to Glenn and Bernice (Adams) Johnson. She graduated from Flippin High School in 1956, where she played basketball and was a member of the cheerleading squad. She later married L.G. “Pete” McCracken of Flippin, and together they raised three sons: Dan, John Bradley, and Michael.

In 1969, she graduated with honors as a fourth-generation graduate of UCA, then known as State College of Arkansas, while raising three children and working Saturdays at the sale barn in Mountain Home. This marked the beginning of a long and meaningful career in education. She taught in Mountain Home, Batesville, Little Rock, and Mayflower, and especially loved teaching fourth grade. She also served as a reading specialist and worked with gifted and talented students.

In 1975, Nita and Pete became owners of the Batesville Livestock Auction. It was a successful venture, and Nita ran the office with warmth and efficiency until Pete’s untimely passing in 1977.

After her years at the sale barn, Nita returned to teaching in Batesville and later moved to the Conway-Maumelle area to be near her children while they were in college. She continued teaching there before eventually retiring from education.

After retiring from teaching, Nita opened HBO (Home Buyers Only) Realty, a new concept at the time. She continued to use her broker’s license for many years as she invested and worked in the real estate industry.

Outside of her professional life, Nita was an athlete and a devoted sports fan. She was always ready for a basketball game and avidly played tennis in clubs and leagues throughout her life. She attended her children’s and grandchildren’s events faithfully and was never shy about pointing out mistakes made by officials. In later years, she served on the Faulkner County Library Board and played piano on Sundays at area nursing homes. She loved traveling and working with flowers and shrubs in her yard. She was also active in politics and was especially proud to have served on Governor Bill Clinton’s staff at the state capitol in Little Rock. She was invited and attended the Inauguration of President Bill Clinton in Washington D.C.

She was preceded in death by her husband, L.G. McCracken; her parents, Glenn and Bernice (Adams) Johnson of Flippin; her son, John Bradley McCracken of Conway; and her brother, Hal Johnson, and his wife, Patsy, of Flippin.

Nita is survived by her two sons, Leonard Dan McCracken of Conway and Michael Lee McCracken and his wife, Jill, of Fayetteville; her grandchildren, Glenn Daniel McCracken and his wife, Kecia, of North Little Rock, Hayden McCracken and his wife, Savannah, Heath McCracken and his wife, Taylor, all of Fayetteville, and John Lorne McCracken and Cassie McCracken of Oklahoma; and her great-grandchildren, Olive McCracken of North Little Rock and Wyatt and Hallie McCracken of Fayetteville. Also, many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Flippin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Flippin Cemetery PO Box 211 Flippin, AR 72634.