March 19, 1925 - February 17, 2017
John H. McRae Obituary (Age 91) Passed away February 17, 2017. He was born March 19, 1925 in Ewen, Michigan to Hector and Helen McRae. He attended grade and high school at Ewen and was a graduate of Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia in 1943. He served in the Army during WWII and was a member of the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard in its campaigns of the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, a gunner cannoneer in "B" Battery of the 229th Field Artillery Battalion, 112th Regimental Combat Team. The combat team was cited for honors by the President of the United States for its service during the Battle of the Ardennes. John was a graduate of Michigan State University (1949) and Georgetown University Law School (1952), where he was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. He was a member of the State Bar of Michigan and a fifty-year member of the Washington State Bar Association. Following WWII, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army of the United States (Artillery Reserve). He came west in 1953 and was a member of the College Club of Seattle while qualifying for the Washington State Bar. He was married to Elizabeth Kenna of Spokane on February 2, 1957. He was elected Chairman of the Spokane County Democratic Central Committee and re-elected in 1964, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1948 and 1964. He was appointed Assistant United States Attorney in 1966 and served through 1969. He was a member of the local draft board and also the Draft Appeal Board for Eastern Washington through 1976. He was a Roman Catholic and a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. He was a member and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and a member of the English Speaking Union-Spokane Chapter. A member and past Commodore of the Spokane Sailing Club, he maintained a sailboat on Lake Coeur d'Alene for 50 years. He was a member of the Spokane Club, where he played squash for many years, as well as a member of the Elks Club, the St. Andrews Society of the Inland Empire, the Spokane Piobaireachd Society, and the United States Naval Institute for 25 years. He was a past member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Assn., a lifelong Democrat, and a member of the Clan McRae. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons Bruce and John of Spokane; daughters Maureen McFarland, Therese and Monica McRae of Seattle, and a grandson, Christopher McFarland. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside Ave., with reception following. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities. � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events FEB 17
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