Dale McRae
Bethalto |
Dale McRae, 84, died peacefully at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, May 2, 2013, at his home surrounded by his wife and loving family after a courageous battle with kidney disease.
He was born on September 5, 1928 to Lena and Waldo McRae in Oakdale, IL. His father died when Dale was only 8 years old and his mother later married Ebenezer Duguid who became a dear stepfather to Dale and his siblings who affectionately called him “Pop”.
Dale was a true gentleman and lived life as a loving husband to his wife of more than 65 years, Lois (Hitch), whom he married November 29, 1947. Dale was a wonderful father, grandfather and friend.He was very proud of his family and was always available to lend a helping hand. His natural talents included home construction and the ability to repair anything from washing machines to car engines. His children and grandchildren could always count on him to have a kind word of encouragement or sage advice while he repaired their leaking faucet or leaking roof.
In 1944, at the age of 16, Dale began working at Laclede Steel never dreaming that he would spend 42 years there eventually retiring as Supervisor of Production Scheduling and Planning for the wire mill. He later became plant manager for the Willing Bee Wire Company in Willingboro, New Jersey and then sold real estate for Coldwell Banker-Pasley realtors in Bethalto.
Dale believed in public service, education and volunteerism. As Chairman of the Meadowbrook Public Water District he worked tirelessly for years on the project that eventually brought city sewers to Meadowbrook. In addition, he served on the Bethalto School board during the time the present high school was constructed and volunteered for numerous religious and community organizations.
Dale will be dearly missed by those who survive him including his wife, Lois, his seven children , Steve and Holly McRae, Dan and Susan McRae , Kevin and Stacy McRae, Terri Downs, Tom and Patti McRae, Barb and Steve Bryant and Jeff and Tina McRae; twenty grandchildren; twenty five great grandchildren; a brother David Duguid and his wife Sharon; his sister, Alice Chamness and her husband, Dave; his sister-in-law Henrietta Dorsey and her husband Bill; his brother-in- law Ron Hitch and his wife Barb; his sister-in- law Sharon McGuire and her husband Neil as well as his sisters-in law, Pauline Stone, Nira Ray, Shelby Hitch and Billie Masiero as well as numerous nephews and nieces all of whom were very special to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step father, by his mother and father –in- law, Charles and Goldie Hitch, an infant daughter, Lori Ann McRae, a granddaughter Danna Marie McRae, a grandson, Thomas Daniel Rice, brothers Jerry and Wally McRae, a sister, Lorraine Shetley, brothers-in-law James Hitch, Jess Stone, Sam Shetley, and James Ray as well as a sister-in-law Ellen McRae.
Dale was an avid pinochle player and especially enjoyed playing with his family. Those who mourn his passing are comforted by the knowledge that he was a man of faith and is already organizing a pinochle game in heaven with those that passed on before him and of whom he loved so much.
In celebration of his life, a visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto.
Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
Memorials may be made to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, the Kidney Foundation, Siteman Cancer Center for Breast Cancer Research, or Zion Lutheran School.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
