Donald McRae

1931 - 2017

Donald McRae
February 17, 1931 - April 4, 2017
Santa Cruz
Donald Richard McRae died on April 4, 2017. He was born in Eureka, California on February 17, 1931 to Donald Hill McRae and Jesse Lorraine Beam. Don was a fourth generation Eurekan on his father's side, dating back to his great grandfather John Barrett Hill. His mother was from the pioneer Beam family of Del Norte County.
After his parents' divorce, Don and his mother moved to Oakland, California where his mother entered the nurse training program at Samuel Merritt Hospital in Oakland, California. When his mother married Wendell Batt, the family moved to Santa Cruz, California.
Don graduated from Mission Hill Junior High and Santa Cruz High School, where he was a member of the Boy's Honor Society. Don then attended San Jose State University. He interrupted his college education to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.
After his military service and an honorable discharge, Don completed his college education and earned a teaching credential. He entered the construction industry and worked for his step-father, Wendell Batt, of Wendell Batt Construction, in Santa Cruz.
During his long career as a Teamster, Don also worked for Johnson Paving, Jasper Construction, Madonna Construction and The Hood Corporation. He co-owned and ran Santa Cruz Sawdust Company for a time.
The many state and local projects Don worked on include the Cave Train at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the original Pacific Garden Mall in Downtown Santa Cruz, the Dream Inn tower on West Cliff Drive, the bridge at Summit Road that spans Highway 17, the County Governmental Center on Ocean Street, several Highway 101 Rest Stops, and numerous other highway and underground construction projects in California, Idaho and Hawaii. He also worked part time for the McLean family (descendants of former President Herbert Hoover) at the Hoover Ranch at Waddell Creek (Rancho del Oso) before it became part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
In his youth, Don did some dirt track racing around what is now Laguna Seca. Don was active in the Santa Cruz Junior Chamber of Commerce, which built, among other things, the wading pool for children at Harvey West Park. Other hobbies included abalone hunting and clamming in the Monterey Bay. Don was an avid reader of everything from Shakespeare to military history, on which he was an expert.
He met his wife, Donaldine Ann Merrill of Santa Cruz on a blind coffee date at San Jose State. They were married in 1955 at Saint Augustine's Church in Waikiki, Hawaii, where he was serving in the USMC.
Although Don was a hardworking man, possibly his greatest joy was being a grandfather to his six grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was loved for his big bear hugs and everlasting encouragement. His grandchildren remember him as always surrounded by books, candy jars for their enjoyment and countless pictures of precious family moments. Each time one of his grandchildren accomplishes their goals or succeeds in their efforts, they will remember Grandpa as a loving and important part of their happiness and achievements.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, step-father Wendell Batt, half-sister Karen Batt, step-mother Lena McRae, brother-in-law Bill Hartin, son-in-law Michael Fukuyama and great-aunt Inez Ford. Don is survived by his spouse Donaldine McRae, children Briana Kahoano, Ian McRae, Dana McRae and Kenna McRae Fukuyama, daughter-in-law Leslie Conner, grandchildren Skyelar McRae, Kate Kahoano, Kieran Kahoano, Conor McRae, Laura McRae, Jasmine Kalender McRae, his great granddaughter Raia Benner, his sister Arlene Hartin and nephew John Hartin. He is deeply missed. Semper fi.


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