Freed from physical limitations, Florence LaVaughn (Moore) McRae (98) was escorted to Heaven by God’s angels on Thursday, July 6, 2023. She was born in Salina, Kansas to Alva A. Moore and Gladys E. Moore on Friday February 13, 1925. She was the second child of what would be a family of six children: Lynn, the oldest, (Mary), Florence #2 (Tom McRae), Gladdy #3 (Bob Helhorst), Charlie #4 (Sonya, sole surviving sister-in-law), Mazie #5 (Bob Leiker) and her sole surviving sibling Jim #6 (Lee), who was responsible for giving Florence the family’s nickname for her. As a toddler he could not say “Florence” so he just called her “Shug” after a song she always sang to him (“Sugartime” by the McGuire Sisters). It stuck throughout her life. She loved being a part of a large family. There were always family gatherings when her siblings visited after they left and started their own families. Florence, Mazie, her best friend and sister, and their parents remained lifelong residents of the Salina community.
In July of 1946 she married Thomas James McRae who was freshly out of the US Army Air Corp, being stationed at Smoky Hill Air Force Base. During this time Florence was a telephone operator. She met her husband to be at a USO dance in Salina, KS. They were married for 70 years until the time Tommy passed in 2017.
She attended Hawthorne Elementary school, Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High, and Salina High School. She learned the art of homemaking from her mother and became an excellent cook. There was never a failure in any respect with her performance in the kitchen! Homemade noodles, breads and sweet baked goods, including the most wonderful pies were a part of her repertoire. Bierocks remain a family favorite. Holiday dinners were a delectable display of the most wonderful foods. Meals were a work of art! She also was an amazing seamstress with the ability to put the most fashionable ideas together. Her two daughters, Debbra Lynne McRae Adrian, and Teresa Joy McRae Rawson, greatly benefited from her seamstress ability. She sewed complete wardrobes for their dolls as they grew up. She sewed many special outfits for her grand boys, Reid McRae Adrian and Paul Thomas Adrian. Grandma Shug taught the boys to sew when they were in junior high. Some may remember that jams (colorful surfer shorts) were the rage at one point. She and the boys collaborated to make many pairs of this flashy attire. And she embroidered on each one of them a trademark: Gram Jams!
Besides being an excellent homemaker, Florence was actively involved in PTA and in the girls’ Brownie and Girl Scout Troops. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church which was an important weekly destination. Of course, habitually sitting in exactly the same pew was the ritual. She also completed the intense and lengthy Disciple Bible Course.
When the girls were older, 12 or so, she decided to earn a little extra money by working at the Roosevelt-Lincoln cafeteria. She enjoyed working with a lot of good women who became close friends. Her job was to make the delicious bread every day. Her next endeavor was another plus for the females in the family. She became a salesperson in the shoe department of Stiefel’s. It’s amazing that she made any money because of all the beautiful shoes we would acquire. Eventually she resigned that job when the grandchildren came along.
She was a very involved grandmother and helped when needed by entertaining her grandsons Reid and Paul, in various ways. Her great-granddaughter, Ella Celeste Adrian (Reid’s daughter), was very important to her. Her advanced age limited her in the things that she could do with Ella but she was as involved as she could be when Ella would come to visit. Shug’s special symbol was a rainbow so Ella would always have a drawing or a painting of a rainbow for her!
Florence took very good care of herself, never indulging in smoking or alcohol and including lots of healthy activities; exercising with Jack LaLanne when it was on TV and walking everyday either for pleasure or necessity. She did not drive until the girls were out of high school. She rarely had need of medication and nutrition was very important to her. However, during her last days, she wanted pie and ice cream every day, and she got it!
Florence was constantly reaching out to family, friends and neighbors in need of help. She would check on elderly in the neighborhood. She wrote notes and Christmas cards for her Aunt Helen when her aunt was unable to have a steady hand. She was always taking some good food to someone who would appreciate it. Florence and her sister Mazie provided round the clock care for their mother for several years before she passed on.
Florence made very good use of her 98 years here on Earth and will be greatly missed. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ryan Mortuary, Salina, KS. Her body has been cremated and the ashes will be buried next to her husband, Tom, in Roselawn Memorial Park, Salina, KS. later in July when the family gathers.
The family sends a special thanks to INTERIM HEALTHCARE, Salina, KS for their exceptional Hospice services, professional nursing care, social intervention and overseeing Florence’s ease of passing. Caring for a loved one at home is a challenge and INTERIM HEALTHCARE made it possible to keep Florence comfortable and safe at home, with family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a contribution be made to your favorite charity.