Jeffrey McRAE

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McRAE:Jeffrey Graham McRae, 43, earned his angel wings on February 13, 2009, after a very courageous 5 1/2 year battle with a brain tumour. Jeff was born April 8, 1965 in Brandon and grew up on the family farm in the South Brandon District. He attended Meadows, Earl Oxford, and graduated from Crocus Plain Regional Secondary School in 1983. After graduation Jeff moved to Russell, and worked for M & J Farms for 1 year. He then moved back home and helpedhis dad and brother on their own farm. Jeff's love was farming and cattle shows. He didn't like the PR work but loved the preparations. Jeff did lots of custom fitting for many people especially Bar 5 Stock Farms every spring and fall. There are many wonderful stories and memories of Jeff's cattle show days. In January 1991, Jeff met the Love of his Life, Linda Hope, and they were married on October 23, 1993 and lived on their own farm at SE 31-8-19 in the RM of Oakland. Linda taught Jeff to golf and they enjoyed taking western dance lessons together. Jeff never passed up the opportunity to two step or line dance. They also enjoyed playing broomball and curling together. Golfing and curling became Jeff's passions and he continued to play both until his health would not allow it this past fall. The 1st year of marriage also brought the 1st year of laying hens. Jeff loved his girls!! Because of them, Jeff became involved with the Egg Show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. December 13, 1995 Jeff became a very proud first time dad with the birth of Tyson James. He was equally proud on February 27, 1998 when his 2nd son Eric Jeffrey was born. Jeff loved his boys immensely and he was very proud of all their accomplishments. When Jeff became ill in August 2003, it pained him dearly to know he may never see his boys grow up. He was a strong believer in promises so when his diagnoses did not look good, Jeff and Linda packed up the boys and went to Disney World in December 2003. He had promised the family they would go someday and he wanted to fulfill that promise. Over the next 5 1/2 years life was very different for Jeff. He was no longer able to farm and he had to sell the egg quota, but he always tried to stay positive. He was very pleased with his boys when they each joined the South Brandon Carroll 4H Beef Club. He himself had been a long time member of the same club. Jeff was also glad he was able to see the boys excel in every sport or endeavour they tried. He was able to be there and cheer them on. The past 10 months were difficult ones for Jeff, but he tried so hard to be positive and continue to do as much as he could for all of us. Good times were harder to come by, but everyone always knew when Jeff was having a good day because he would use his dry sense of humour. Jeff had many good friends and right to the end they were there for him. Even while in hospital, Jeff found enough strength to have a drink and joke with them. This meant the world to him. Jeff was predeceased by his nephew Christopher Bokkel (1994), mother-in-law Anne Hope (2003) and his father Allan McRae (2004). He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Linda(nee Hope), sons Tyson and Eric, mother Margaret McRae, brother Blair (Lois), sister Janice (John) Bokkel, father-in -law Charles (Erna Honeyman) Hope, brother-in-law James (Karyn) Hope, nephews Brett McRae, Jonathan Bokkel, Jordan and Zachary Hope, and nieces Melissa McRae, Marja and Tonja Bokkel, and Madison Hope. Several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends will also miss this wonderful man. The Ceremony to Celebrate Jeff's Life was held at Central United Church, on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Shannon McCarthy officiated. Pallbearers were all very close friends of Jeff: Garth Jameson, Keith Jameson, Kelly Fardoe, Glenn Williamson, Earl McComb, and Craig Mowatt. Earl McComb shared some of the friends' special memories of Jeff with everyone, and Jeff's wife Linda shared her special memories too. A private family interment followed in the Rosewood Memorial Gardens. Donations in memory of Jeff may be made to The Education Trust Fund for Tyson and Eric, c/o Westoba Credit Union, 3300 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, R7B 0N2, or any Westoba Credit Union branch. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel and Pre- Planning Centre, 727-0330.We Love you JeffHe is GoneYou can shed tears that he is gone,Or you can smile because he lived,You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.Your heart can be empty because you can't see himOr you can be full of the love that you shared,You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.You can remember him and only that he is goneOr you can cherish his memory and let it live on,You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes,love and go on.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 28, 2009