Mary Irene McGrew (Currier) was born in Healdsburg, CA on September 19, 1925, to Edna Mae Tracy McGrew and James Gale McGrew. She had three sisters and one brother who preceded her in death. Mary grew up on a ranch in Freestone, Ca. She had many chores as a young child along with her sisters and brother: bringing the cows in from pasture, milking the cows, feeding them and the horses, and cleaning the barn. Mary’s father would purchase wild horses, bring them home, and Mary and her brother would break them in.
Mary learned at a very early age about good work ethics. She was very diligent every morning doing these chores and then walking to school several miles. Also, at a very young age, after arriving to school, every morning she would raise the flag on the flag pole and light the stove in the one room school house.
Mary married her husband Ralph Lowell Lawson at the age of 16. They lived in Santa Rosa, Ca, they had a son, Lowell, who passed away at the age of three months old, and later had identical twin daughters, Jean and Joan and two sons, Dennis and Randy. They were married almost 24 years. Mary worked several different jobs over the years to help support her family including: working as a waitress, picking prunes, apples, walnuts (in season). She would take her two daughters with her very early in the mornings to help pick the apples, prunes and walnuts.
When Mary remarried she had another son, Gary Currier. In 1958 the family moved to Southern California. She later went to school to become a CNA, got a certificate and then worked at a convalescent home for several years and then worked for a nursing company assisting patients in their homes. She later worked for a Board and Care Residence in Santa Ana, Ca as a manager and caregiver. She was very dedicated to taking care of the people and very good with them. The families loved her for taking such good care of their family members. One of the families was still in contact with Mary after the passing of their loved one.
At the age of 81, she took care of her home, yard work, gardening, pruning her roses and trees, and, taking care of her little dog, Precious, which included grooming her little dog, which had very long hair. Mary also enjoyed feeding the wild birds from a bird feeder hung in her huge backyard tree. She also liked feeding the hummingbirds.
Mary has made a positive difference in her family and friends lives by her loving example of compassion, concern, dedication and generosity towards others. She was a very loving mother to her children. She loved having her family together for Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and to get together with her family for special times in her home.
Mary loved to have fun; she loved dancing, playing board games, playing cards, making crafts, writing poems, drawing and coloring. She loved driving her 1964 Green Volkswagen Bug. She loved to laugh, and, she had a beautiful smile.
A visitation for Mary will be held Friday, December 21, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Rose Window Chapel followed by a graveside service from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM at Fairhaven Memorial Park 7 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Currier family.
