mccrea was at first attended a catholic convent in paris, and then, when she was 10 years old, at her mother's death, her father took her back to chicago where she attended other public schools. later she attended mlle. bouligny's school in chevy chase, maryland. by 1906 she had returned to europe to attend a girls' school. in paris she became friends with actress jane peyton and her husband guy bates post. by the end of 1910 she was back in chicago, living at 720 lincoln park boulevard.