Catholene Rebecca Crane McGrady, 89, died on April 25, 2018 peacefully with her daughter by her side after a short, but courageous battle with lymphoma at the Gosnell Hospice of Scarborough, Maine. A longtime resident of Front Royal, Virginia, she had recently moved to Maine with her daughter, Tracy, son-in-law, David, and the grandsons she treasured.
Catholene was born on August 23, 1928 in West Virginia to parents, John Samuel Offutt Crane and Amber Eva James Crane. A graduate of Warren County High School, Catholene went to work at FMC Corporation in the lab where she stayed for twenty years. She married R. B. “Mac” McGrady and had one daughter, Tracy Sue McGrady Madden. A devoted wife and mother, she quit work and decided to become a stay at home mother. Catholene was talented in many areas. Her gifts of cooking, baking, knitting, sewing, refinishing furniture, upholstering and more, served her well, as well as many, many family members, friends, and her community.
Catholene worked for Grants before moving on to Peebles where she retired as an assistant manager after many years.
After retirement, she continued to share her talents with others. She hemmed, let out, took in and customized more clothes than can be recalled, never at a cost. She enjoyed sharing all her gifts. Her baking and cooking talents were well known in town, where she assisted in many showers and weddings, even preparing food with friends for her daughter’s wedding. Knitting with her sister, Onile, was a great joy and a skill that she continued to the end of her life.
She is survived by her daughter, Tracy McGrady Madden; son-in-law, David Madden; beloved grandsons, Austin, Kyle, Merrick and Griffin Madden all of Scarborough, Maine. Catholene is also survived by her brother, Ernest Crane of Flint Hill, Virginia; sister, Onile Crane Salisbury of Front Royal; sister, Joan Ann Crane Fristoe of Warrenton, Virginia; brother, Oliver Crane and his wife, Maryann of Kilmarnock, Virginia and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Mac McGrady; parents, John and Amber Crane and siblings, Edgel Crane, Alma Crane Bailey, Bruce Crane and Ronnie Crane.
Family night will be held at Maddox Funeral Home, Front Royal on Friday, June 8, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 1 PM also at Maddox. Interment will be held for family directly after the service at Panorama Memorial Gardens.
The family would like to thank the kindhearted and gentle group of physicians that cared for Catholene over the course of many months. She was treated with profound respect and compassion throughout her illness. Also we would like to thank the lovely souls at Gosnell Hospice who treated her with dignity and grace.