June Carlee McGrath

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of June Carlee McGrath, beloved matriarch of the McGrath family. Carlee, who experienced a debilitating stroke seven years ago, and who recently celebrated her ninety-eighth birthday, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2023.
Carlee grew up in Descanso, California, the daughter of Alberta and Ernest Easley. Her early life was complicated by a number of health issues including acute asthma, as well as her family's financial hardships while growing up in rural East County. Carlee attended Grossmont High School, and after graduation, began work in downtown San Diego in a typing pool.
She met her future husband, C.W. (Bill) at Lee-Anns Café where she worked part-time waiting tables. C.W. would come frequently to the restaurant for dinner after a long day at work, and it wasn't too long before Carlee told her sister Annie, "I'm going to marry that guy". Six months later her promise was fulfilled, and shortly thereafter, Carlee and Bill started a family with the addition of two sons and a daughter within the next four years, and a second daughter seven years later. Carlee stayed busy raising her children, running a household, working in their material business, and trying to keep up with her husband, Bill.
Despite their busy and active lives, they found time for family vacations where they were able to enjoy the outdoors and their love of hunting, fishing and camping. In the ensuing years, Carlee and Bill continued to grow their family business from a fledgling start-up selling top soil from the back of an old pick-up truck in the 1940's, to become one of the largest general engineering contractors in Southern California during the '60s, '70s, and '80s.
She and Bill also actively invested in real estate as they were building their business, mostly undeveloped land where they would scrape the topsoil off for sale in their material business, and eventually sell the land. The largest parcel they purchased and continued to hold for many years, was in Kearney Mesa, which led to development of retail and industrial projects in what was to become the heart of San Diego County.
The success of the McGrath real estate investments and subsequent development served as a catalyst to fund the McGrath Family Foundation. Inspired by Carlee's love of animals, the Foundation was formed in 1986, with Carlee as Chairwoman and Laurie McGrath as President. Since that time, the Foundation's growth and reach have expanded to include contributions to a number of branches of the San Diego YMCA's, Boys and Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement, and the McGrath Mountain Center in Park City, Utah. Globally, the Foundation has provided funding to Humane Society International for the opening of 20 new country offices on seven continents, whose goal is to end animal cruelty on a broader scale throughout the world. The Foundation has also been a major contributor to PETA's efforts to end animal testing in research facilities throughout the U.S. It has funded four Chimpanzee sanctuaries in the southeastern United States, which are focused on the relocation of hundreds of Chimpanzees from research laboratories performing animal testing. These facilities will provide them the opportunity to live out their lives in comfortable surroundings without fear of abusive practices.
Carlee, who was fondly known to family and friends as the "General", due to her tough no-nonsense sensibilities and leadership qualities, was also a kind and generous woman who could always be depended on when her friends or family needed help. She touched so many people during her life and always had a "glass half full" outlook when confronted with problems or uncertainty which she maintained even after her stroke. She loved to gamble, mostly playing the slots, and her trips to Las Vegas and local casinos with family and friends were almost always successful. Her stamina and uncanny luck on these trips was legendary and it was not unusual for her to continue playing long into the night after her friends had already gone to bed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 2005 and is survived by her four children: Michael P. McGrath, William "Billy" McGrath, Laurie C. McGrath, and Kelly Anne Hearn; her six grandchildren; and her 14 great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the McGrath Family Foundation or the McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego in Carlee's memory.
Visitation will be held 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 16, at Paris Frederick Mortuary located at 684 South Mollison Ave., El Cajon, CA.