Ida Belva McCray

IDA BELVA McCRAY
March 29, 1929 ˜ September 23, 2023

Ida Belva (Sooter) McCray was born on March 29, 1929, to Thomas Sooter and Mamie (Lashier) Sooter in Meadow Glade, WA. The Sooter family was of very modest means, Thomas was resourceful and often worked several jobs, most notable as a brick layer, and Mamie provided for the home, tending the garden, sewing dresses for the girls but Ida, her older sister, Mary Ellen, and younger, brother, Glen, enjoyed a very full childhood. Their family were very devout Seventh-day Adventists and they rarely missed a service at the Meadow Glade church. Ida attended the Adventist school there as did her siblings and she graduated from Columbia Academy with honors in 1947.

The following year she attended Walla Walla College in College Place, WA. She only attended one year. After that, Ida worked in several factories, sewing beach attire at Jantzen Woolen Mills; and while working at a local cannery, she met Leonard (Mac) McCray. They became friends and later married on Feb. 7, 1950.

Having tried unsuccessfully to have children, they adopted a newborn, Michael Dennis in November of 1958 and a year and a half later Jannis Lorraine in May of 1960. While the family had mostly lived in Clark County, Ida’s dream had been to live in or near Meadow Glade to enable her children to have the same educational experience that she enjoyed. In 1973, they built a home off 199th Street. Mac passed away in 2000, and a year later, Ida moved into Fishers Landing to be closer in and nearer to her grandchildren. She lived there until her declining health dictated full-time care in 2022, where she was transferred to a private adult care facility. She passed away comfortably on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023, at 94 years of age.

Ida is survived by two children, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren. She will be buried in the Brush Prairie Cemetery alongside Mac, and surrounded by many members of her family.

Ida’s greatest treasurers were her church and church community, and her family, particularly the littlest ones were her favorite.

Services will be held at Meadow Glade Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11001 NE 189th St., Battle Ground, WA 98604. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits