Finley Murphy McRae

Finley Murphy McRae, age 94, of Mt. Gilead, NC passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Stanly Regional Medical Center, CMC, Albemarle. Mr. McRae was born May 22, 1922 in Montgomery County, the son of James Jackson and Margaret Frances Smith McRae. Mr. McRae was a member of Zion United Methodist Church and a US Coast Guard Veteran having proudly served his country in World War II. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and sharing his great sense of humor with everyone he knew. He was a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, lovingly called “Finley Daddy”. He was an airplane enthusiast and enjoyed driving his 1933 Ford Coupe in local parades and traveling with his motorcycle club. He was a retired mechanical engineer in the construction industry. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-nine years, Enice Aileen Russell McRae, four brothers, one sister, and an infant daughter, Karen Dee McRae. He is survived by his three children: Donna Jean Keesler and husband Tom of Albemarle, Linda Sue Howle and husband Bill of Darlington, SC and Louis Finley McRae and wife Julie of Denver, CO; ten grandchildren: Beverly Crymes (Scott), Russell Seegars, Randy Seegars (Ramona), Michael Keesler (Susan), Townsend Langley, Jamie Howle, Gram Howle, Parker Howle (Bridget), Christopher McRae, Catherine McRae, seven great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Lorraine McRae, and his special friend Connie Vause. The family will receive friends Friday, March 17, 2017 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Pugh-Troy Funeral Home, 211 N Main St., Troy. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 pm at Zion United Methodist Church, Zion Church Rd., Mt. Gilead with Rev. Duane Partin and Rev. Jim Harris officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the American Legion Post #159, c/o Russell Fuller, 1195 Love Joy Rd., Troy, NC 27371 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Pugh-Troy Funeral Home is serving the McRae Family. On-line condolences and remembrances may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com