Lorraine McEndree

Lorraine McEndree or as her loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her “Rain Rain” departed this earth January 8th 2015 to join her family and heavenly father. Lorraine was born March 23rd 1919, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She was the first child of Edward Arthur and Retta Mae Longseth. In 1923 her childhood family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and the family grew with the addition of three brothers – Jack Sterling, Martin Wayne, and Russell Willis. Lorraine graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1936. She played the piano all through her childhood and became such an accomplished pianist that she performed with the Phoenix Symphony in the Encanto Bowl.

In 1941, she met and married William Glenn McEndree. William and Lorraine moved to Roswell, New Mexico, and lived on the U S Army Air Force base. They were blessed with the birth of their daughter Linda Kathryn born in 1942. After WWII ended, the family moved to San Francisco, California, and celebrated the birth of their son John Edward born in 1948. In 1953 the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona with plans of Bill and Lorraine starting a business selling vitamins for Dartell Laboratories. Disaster struck shortly after the move, William McEndree passed from this earth in November, 1953. Lorraine never remarried and spent the remainder of her life devoted to her family. She worked as a bank teller at 1st National Bank of Arizona and sold vitamins for Dartell. Eventually she obtained a position as a computer operator for the Arizona Department of Education, where she was employed until she retired in 1985. After her retirement she spent the next twelve years working at McDonalds on 7th Ave and Camelback where she was loved by the customers and employees.

In March of 2012, Lorraine was hospitalized at Scottsdale Healthcare Critical Care Unit and required fourteen blood transfusions. After two months of special nursing at Acacia Nursing Home, she returned to her home where she received constant care from her son John and his wife Jeanine over the following two years. She spent the final ten months of her life at Dream Catcher Assisted Living in Scottsdale. At Dream Catcher, Lorraine received wonderful care from a very special group of loving caregivers. Our family would like to extend its most sincere gratitude to Gaile Dixon and her gifted staff for the genuine love and concern she received there.

Lorraine’s daughter Linda passed on September 20th 2011. Linda is survived by her son Donald Glenn Garland, his wife Genoveffa, their son John, and daughter Anna who live in Germany; and Linda’s daughter Debra Lorraine Watkins, her husband Hal, and their two daughters Brittany and Amanda who live in Ahwatukee, Arizona.

Lorraine is also survived by her son John and his wife Jeanine, and their daughters, and grandchildren - Jennifer Michelle and her two children Autumn Kay and Collin David, their daughter Julia Elaine and her daughter Jayden Rain, and their youngest daughter Jeanette Christine. We are all so grateful that Lorraine was able to spend this most recent Thanksgiving and Christmas with her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We are especially happy that she was able to hold and caress Jayden (who was three months old and named after Lorraine). Despite her numerous health problems, we could see she recognized and loved her family more than words can express. This memory will live in our hearts forever.

Lorraine was truly one of the most unselfish and devoted matriarchs with which any family could be blessed. Throughout the numerous trials and tribulations of life, Lorraine was always steadfast and devoted. Although she has gone to a better place, she will be missed deeply.