Thela Hale McCrae

Thela Hale McCrae, 91, died peacefully Monday, July 13, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital, in Kansas City MO. A short memorial service followed by a visitation will be at Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman, 10507 Holmes, Kansas City, MO 64131, on Thursday July 23rd, 2015, between 5 PM and 7 PM.

Thela was born in Woodston, Kansas on 10/15/1923 the second child of four to Carl and Mayme Hale. The family soon moved to Downs, Kansas. When she was 16 her father passed away. After graduating from High School in Downs, Thela attended Chillicothe Business College. During World War II, she moved to Kansas City for a job in the war effort at the Pratt and Whitney plant with her clerical skills. Her sister and mother soon joined her in Kansas City as her two brothers were both in the Navy. After the war, she met Rogers M. McCrae, a returned GI, and they married in 1948. The two raised a loving family of one girl and three boys. Thela was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many.

She did extensive research on autism (a condition little understood at the time) to help her son Chuck, and among other things, was instrumental in starting the Alm House group home.

Thela is survived by her daughter, Catherine Singleton McCrae; her three sons, “Scott” Rogers Scott McCrae, “Chuck” Charles McEntee McCrae, and John David McCrae; three grandchildren, Luke and wife Ashley, Angela, and Allison; two daughters-in-law, Jill Strahm McCrae and Mary Susan Clement McCrae; and many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Carl Raymond Hale (6/11/1892 -11/17/1939), “Mollie” Mayme Ellen Dunn Hale (3/29/1893 – 11/29/1954); her husband “Rog” Rogers Murdock McCrae (3/16/1919 – 4/24/2004); her brother “Max” Theo Max Hale (1/23/1922 – 3/25/1997); brother “Joe” Herman Darrell Hale (4/12/1925 – 11/20/1999); and her sister “Nonie” Winona Hale Teters (11/3/1926- 5/7/1987).

Memorial contributions can be made to the City Union Mission.