Clarence Franklin McRae was born to Luther and Ruby McRae in Royse City, TX in Rockwall County on 5/26/1928. He passed away on 11/10/2014. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margaret. Daughter and Son-In-Law, Paula and Keith Applegate of Fort Worth. Three grandchildren Kari, Codey, and Casey Applegate. Son and Daughter-In-Law, Ed and Ellen McRae of Colorado Springs, CO. His sister, Dorothy Kveton, from Petersburg, TX. He is preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Ruby and Luther McRae, and his brother, Billy McRae of San Antonio. His Mother, Ruby Moore McRae, was born in Hamlin, TX. His Father, Luther Franklin McRae, was born in Telephone, TX. They were married in the mid-1920’s. His father was a baker and his mom helped in the bakery business when not maintaining the household and raising 3 children. He grew up mostly in (then a small town) McKinney. Dad’s family had lots of history in Collin and Fannin counties, namely McKinney and Bonham. As a teenager he helped deliver bread in North Central Texas in the Red River country. He enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1948. He continued in the family business in the Marines. He completed baker’s school November 1949 in Camp LeJeune and spent time in Camp Pendleton. Being honorably discharged in August 1952, he hitched a ride with some buddies back to Fort Stockton, Texas where his parents were living at the time. His Father had a bakery there for a short time, then moved back to North Texas. He lived his young adult life in McKinney where he was a baker and liked hanging out with his buddies James, Guy, and Ray. He moved to Dallas in early 1960’s. He always worked as a baker, and even worked in the Meadows Building in Downtown Dallas in the fancy cafeteria. He needed a place to live. He moved into a boarding house where there was a fiery lady from Arkansas, Margaret Lucille Ensor. They developed a relationship and were married on her birthday, November 9, 1963. Their daughter was born in 1967. They lived at a couple of apartment complexes in those early years, Hill Country Manor and the Timbers Apartments. Their son was born in 1971. They moved to 819 S. Story Road in Irving. Dad worked at Buddies grocery store bakery. He retired from the Skaggs store on North Beltline. The McRae family moved to San Grande Mobile home park at the edge of Irving and Grand Prairie in 1978. This was the last place where Dad lived. He enjoyed many good years in his retirement. He worked part-time at Car Quest in parts delivery. One of his favorite activities was taking a bus ride to the casinos, Marksville, MS, Bosier City, LA, and places in OK. He had some pretty good luck at times. My Dad was a modest man. Nothing extreme. He was sad when the 55 MPH speed limit went away. He thought 65 was too fast and those 85 MPH speeds on I-10 were crazy! He could make a 6 pack of beer last 7 days. He loved his family in a quiet, stable manner. He always baked special cakes for his family. (The benefits of having a Dad that was baker!) My Dad always saved money for a family vacation camping trip when we were kids. We have had 2 campers, conversion vans and 1 fold out trailer. Those were fun times. We went to the Texas coast a couple of times by Rockport. That was a blast for us kids and great family time. We had good family holidays with our grandparents. Lots of tasty food from all of those old-school bakers. Good memories. When things were not going well in the hospital before he passed away, he was very worried about missing his wife’s birthday and their 51st wedding anniversary. Happily, they had a special cake and a great celebration. Dad passed just after midnight on Monday morning, November 10, 2014. He was 86. He was known as Son, Bubba, Dad, and Granddaddy. He was loved and will be missed. So long “biscuit maker”. We love you. A committal service with full military honors will be held at 12:30 pm on Monday, December 15, 2014 at The Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas.

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