She was born in Pendleton, Oregon on August 21, 1921, the daughter of conservationist Edgar Francis Averill.

After college she worked as a reporter for The Oregonian, Portland's main daily newspaper, later becoming the Home and Garden editor for the paper.

[2] McCready was appointed to the Portland City Council in 1970, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of commissioner Stanley W. Earl,[3] and was sworn in on March 19, 1970.

In 1979, by a vote of her fellow city commissioners, McCready was appointed to the position of mayor of Portland upon Neil Goldschmidt's resignation to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Carter Administration.

[6] She was defeated in the May 1980 primary by Frank Ivancie, whose succession to the office took effect on November 24,[7] at which point McCready retired from politics.