Elizabeth Gai McRae

May 10, 1934 - August 4, 2022

Elizabeth passed away peacefully on August 4, 2022. She is remembered by her family as loving, kind, caring, thoughtful, supportive, optimistic, and creative. She was a world adventurer, a hiker and backroads car camper, an avid nature and family photographer, a tennis player, an avid Cal Bears tennis fan, an Upwords player, and family historian and correspondent. She tracked every birthday and anniversary of her family and friends on a special calendar and she always sent a card or called. She collected Nutcrackers and she created many happy Christmas memories for her family.

Elizabeth was born in Sydney, Australia on May 10, 1934. She attended the Methodist Ladies College in Burwood where she learned her impeccable manners, spelling and penmanship and where she met her forever high-school friend Cynthia Martin. Elizabeth played tennis at school and at home on her family’s grass tennis court. And she won the Under 14 Junior Tennis Championship of New South Wales. After high school, Elizabeth studied physiotherapy

Elizabeth soon met her future husband Dr. James McRae when they both worked at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. They were married on January 31, 1957, at St Anne’s Church followed by dinner and dancing under a marquee in her parents’ garden. In 1958, the happy couple and a baby daughter, Amanda, flew to Berkeley where Jim earned his PhD, and where their first son, Michael, was born. The Donald family adopted the McRae family and hosted them for their first Thanksgiving celebration followed by Christmas. Elizabeth enjoyed many happy holiday festivities with the Donald clan. The young family completed a road-trip around the U.S. visiting many National parks and major US cities and Elizabeth took many photos and extensive notes.

After returning to Sydney in 1961, another daughter, Margot, joined the family. Always ready for an adventure, Elizabeth, Jim and the two oldest children headed to Bangkok, Thailand, for a three month work assignment for Jim. Back in Sydney, a fourth child, Steven, joined the family. Elizabeth made sure her children were ready with their homework completed and their school uniforms ironed. In 1967, the family of six flew back to Berkeley, CA for a two-year sabbatical in Berkeley, with stopovers in Tahiti and Fiji. In 1971, the family packed up their Sydney household and moved permanently to the United States with 17 suitcases in hand.

Elizabeth and Jim lived in their home on Pebble Beach Way in El Cerrito for 50 years. Elizabeth was involved with many design and landscape decisions, while juggling school drop offs and pick-ups at four separate locations.

Elizabeth enjoyed playing tennis with the El Cerrito Tennis Club where she made long lasting friendships. In later years, the tennis friends played Upwords each month and celebrated birthdays and milestones together.

Elizabeth loved her five grandchildren, Jenny, Pete, Kate, Alex and Hayden. When the children were young, she did lots of babysitting, sick childcare, transportation, and homework. She attended school fairs, sporting events, awards ceremonies, and graduations. She called frequently to keep up with all her family’s activities.

For over 20 years, Elizabeth attended all Cal Tennis home matches and awards ceremonies where she talked with the players, coaches and other fans. Elizabeth travelled with Jim each year to Ojai California to watch the Bears play in the Ojai Tennis Tournament. Elizabeth and Jim were hosted by another lifelong friend, Dottie Loebel, during their visits to Ojai.

Elizabeth travelled to France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, South Africa and Canada. She loved to travel by car, train, foot, and small river boat documenting all the sites and impressions. She hiked from inn to inn in England and on the Milford Track in New Zealand. Elizabeth corresponded with many friends made on those trips. She went on remote rugged camping trips in a small truck with camper shell. In recent years, Elizabeth enjoyed vacation visits within California to McCloud, Ferndale, Half Moon Bay, Benicia, Tamales Bay, Pacific Grove, Santa Cruz, and Tahoe. She saw beauty in nature everywhere.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband of 65 years, three children and their spouses, and five grandchildren. Elizabeth was predeceased by her son, Steven.
Elizabeth loved words of wisdom and collected sayings wherever she traveled. Words of Wisdom from Elizabeth’s Journal:

Remember to smell the flowers

Things arrange themselves

Sow seeds of kindness to grow a garden of friends

It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice

The family is planning a remembrance for Elizabeth at Arlington Park Clubhouse in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cal Tennis program. The website is https://give.berkeley.edu/fund/FF0529000.

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We are sorry to hear that Elizabeth passed away. Together we share precious memories of the Bungle Bungles in 2006 and a short visit to the Netherlands in 2008. We will remember Elizabeth as a warm, humorous, intelligent and inspiring person. She will be missed and we send Jim and the family our love and thoughts. A big hug from abroad.

I have been an exchange student in the Mc Rae family in 1979/80. A deep thank you to my American Mother Elizabeth who integrated me fully. I feel blessed since.

What a beautiful and moving tribute to Elizabeth. The Hotten family sends our love and thoughts to Jim, Mandy, Mike and Margot as we reflect on the family's numerous visits to Australia and the memories that they created. We will plant an Australian native tree in memory of Elizabeth in our garden in Burradoo.

I have just read the beautiful tribute to Elizabeth (Liz) and am really moved by it. Our family became close to the McCrae family via Michael, who later became our son-in-law. We shared many a Thanksgiving celebration in El Cerrito with the family and friends that will always create warmth in my memory. Liz made the most amazing photo albums from their travels, beautifully captioned and positioned. From one we learned that Liz and Jim had stayed at the same farm B&B as we had near the Yorkshire moors. Liz had a lovely sense of humor and a wry grin, sometimes when others didn't think something was funny. I miss her very much.

Elizabeth was my aunt and although I lived in Australia she worked hard at keeping our relationship alive. She would write lengthy cards filled with photos of family or recent interests. Always with concerned interest in the Australian leg. We shared several adventures in both America and Australia over the years, stunning national parks, walks through botanical gardens and stays at Sydney beaches, but my fondest memories were just sitting together in silence, gazing out, taking it all in. My heart and thoughts go out to Jim, Mandy, Mike and Margot.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Thanks for sharing the beautiful tribute to Elizabeth! I learned so much more about your travels. How lucky we are you settled near us. We shall miss her greatly. Still planning on having you all over to share memories. Let us know the date of the memorial.

With loving memories of Elizabeth McRae,

Very touched to learn of the many adventures and true spirit of this lovely lady. Will cherish memories of Elizabeth keeping an alert daily watch over the El Cerrito Bay area from her perch on the hillside of Pebble Beach Way.

Bob and i had the pleasure of many lunches with Elizabeth and Jim at the Orinda coffee shop on Elizabeth’s haircut days in Orinda. She invariably enjoyed an avocado sandwich on toast while Jim and Bob reminisced about their days at Childrens Hospital and the four of us talked tennis. I miss her and her kind nature. Pat Gerdsen

Elizabeth was one of the most generous and loving persons I have ever had the pleasure to have known.

A great tennis partner and even greater friend.

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Elizabeth McRae . Plant a Tree

Mom loved the great outdoors. Our favorite activity recently was picnicking. I like to imagine future generations strolling under these trees

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Elizabeth McRae . Plant a Tree

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.