Harrell J McRae

Harrell Jerald "Jerry" McRae of Houston was born on September 28, 1937. He went to join the Lord on February 24, 2017. He died peacefully in his sleep after a long illness. He was 79 years old. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Leon Noel and Rosa Belle McRae, brother Paul McRae, and sister Marcille Carbone. Jerry is survived by his wife Dorothy and sister Jeanne Wootters. He is also survived by his children, Stewart McRae, Paul McRae, Annette O'Hare and husband Daniel. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Daniel McRae and wife Kelley, Kevin McRae, Patrick O'Hare and wife Abbey, Casey O'Hare, and Connor O'Hare, He is also survived by his great grandchildren, Sadie McRae, Kelsa McRae, Ainsley McRae, and Braden McRae. He is also survived by various cousins, nieces and nephews. Primarily raised by his mother who instilled in Jerry a love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior as a young boy and was baptized into the church at the age of 5 years old. He lived a life of devotion to his faith. At the age of 18 Jerry graduated from Reagan High School and enrolled in the National Guard where he served for 8 years. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. On May 23, 1957 he married Dorothy Brannon who became his partner, companion, and the love of his life for the next 59 years. Jerry was a natural born entrepreneur. He began his work career at the age of 8 by selling homemade trinkets to his neighbors. He went on to have many other jobs in his youth. An accomplished typist from an early age Jerry was given a job operating an Adressograph machine for Foleys department store. He later typed manifests for Lykes Steamship Co. As an adult he went on to have a successful career in the industrial heating industry. Starting as a salesperson for A.P. Green Refractories, first in Dallas, then in Shreveport Louisiana, he learned the technology of the industry in which he would later become a noted innovator. Returning to Houston in 1970 he started M&M Furnace Company which would pioneer new techniques of pollution abatement in incineration. Over the course of his career he designed and built hundreds of furnaces of all types for clients around the globe. The last 20 years of his career he pioneered a new way to process used oil filters. His patented technology has been responsible for recycling millions of tons of steel and oil, saving it from polluting our nation's landfills. A generous man with a radiant smile that lit up the room, Jerry was free with his money. He gave to many causes and was always willing to help friends in need with personal no interest loans or just a hand up. He would help friend and stranger alike. He was a lusty eater and loved to spend time out with his family and friends enjoying life to the fullest. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was a gifted singer and he freely shared the gift of his voice with the world. He always sang in the choir at church and was a member of a gospel quartet in his youth. He especially loved to sing duets with Dorothy, the love of his life, whose alto was a perfect complement to Jerry's tenor. Children were his greatest joy. In addition to his own kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, he and Dorothy helped mentor many children through their involvement in youth programs at church. Everyone loved "Teddy" as he became known, dubbed so by his granddaughter Casey because she thought he was as soft and tender as a teddy bear. He gave great hugs. There will be a memorial service held at 2 PM on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Lakeway Baptist Church, 5801 FM 1960 E, Humble, TX 77346