Donald Mcrae

Donald D. McRae, 89, Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. He was born January 1, 1920 at Princeton, Minnesota, the son of Duncan A. McRae, D.D.S. and Lena Frank McRae. He was graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1941, with a B.B.A. degree in accounting. He was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi honorary accounting fraternity.
He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1942 until January 1946. Most of this time was spent as an officer aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota in the Pacific, the flagship of Admirals Halsey and Nimitz.
From 1946 until 1952 he was employed by Hood and Strong, CPA, San Francisco, CA, where he earned his CPA designation.
On December 16, 1950 he married Mary Alice Martin, daughter of Fred P. Martin and Charlotte J. Martin, in Topeka. From 1952 until 1984, he was a partner in Martin Tractor Company, Inc. (Caterpillar dealer). He retired in 1984 as Chairman of the Company. Don was also president of the Martin Company, Inc. (real estate operations) for over 30 years.
Don was a director of American Home Life Insurance Company for 24 years; he also served as director of Topeka United Fund, Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Topeka Rotary Club, Presbyterian Manor, and Junior Achievement. His non-business memberships included: First Congregational Church, Arab Shrine, and Topeka Country Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice McRae, and by four children; Douglas D. McRae, Topeka; Christie Kirmse, Napa, CA; Patricia Denning, M.D., Lawrence; and Marla Jeffress, Centennial, CO, 12 grandchildren; and 1 great grandson. He was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Johnson.
Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. Private family inurnment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be made to The Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8550, Topeka, KS 66608-0350 or Topeka Rotary Foundation, 420 E 6th, Suite 110, Topeka, KS 66607 or Shriner's Hospitals for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, Mo, 63131.