Michael Everette McRae

Michael E McRae was born on February 23, 1955 to Francis and Bernice (Fisher) McRae in Bad Axe, Michigan. He was the oldest of 4 children and was raised in Walled Lake, Michigan. Although raised in Walled Lake, his heart always remained at his grandparents farm in Pinnebog, Michigan. He spent as much time there as possible and loved to tell the stories of his childhood as it related to his beloved grandma, grandpa, and numerous cousins. He graduated from Walled Lake Western High School in 1973. Mike met his future wife Sharon Smith while working at Beverly Manor nursing home. They married October 18, 1975. They moved multiple times and settled in Byron, Michigan in the blizzard of January 1979.
Mike worked many jobs throughout his life from the hardware stores to the factories and even being a veterinarian assistant, whatever needed to be done to get the bills paid. He enrolled in LPN school at McPherson Hospital in Howell where he would make countless lifelong friends and a career that would impact the lives of so many people. During his time in nursing school he also worked as a volunteer EMT for Byron Area Ambulance. He and Sharon would volunteer their time there and emerse themselves in the small town of Byron that would become their forever home. Mike went on to work at McPherson hospital while going to school and became a very quick learner to the ways of the Emergency Room. It was his passion to say the least. He went on in school and received his RN from Mott Community College. He continued to work in the Emergency Room in Howell where he made friendships that were more like family. The people he worked with were a huge part of his life. In the midst of making a career there he also dabbled on the side as a nurse for an air ambulance. He would fly patients to different states for more intensive care. He loved to fly and loved to take care of people. He progressed in his career to become a manager and a nursing supervisor within the hospital system.
He and Sharon raised two children Beth (Ben) Butcher and Mike McRae.
Mike was active in his children's lives supporting them in all their activities which included being a cub scout and then a boy scout leader. He was able to make trips with the scouts that would provide a lifetime of stories and memories. His travels didn't end with the scouts. Mike and Sharon would travel to many tropical places on cruise ships with their friends, along with countless numbers of trips to Las Vegas.
Beth and Ben had two children Benjamin and Faith Butcher whom everyone who ever met Mike heard about. They were the light of his life. He helped them with all of their projects and any activity that they wanted to do.
Mike was preceded in death by his wife Sharon and his father Francis along with his brother in law Tom Steere.
Those surviving him are many, his children and grandchildren, but also his mother, Bernice, brother Mark McRae, sister Pam Steere, brother Matt (Shari) McRae, many nieces and nephews and countless friends.
A life well lived will leave aching hearts. That's the price we pay for love. We are eternally grateful to pay that price because of the love that Mike gave us through his entire life.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 11:00am at St. Mary Catholic Church, 700 E. Columbia Dr. Durand, MI. Family will receive friends from 4:00pm-8:00pm on Thursday at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, 501 N. Saginaw St. Durand, The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed at 7:00pm at the funeral home.