Charlotte McCrate

Charlotte Braun McCrate, 94, lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Born on July 12, 1920, Charlotte was the daughter of Frederick Ferdinand "F.F." and Delia Deevers Braun. She went to St. Vincent de Paul Grade School and graduated from St. Mary High School (now Notre Dame Regional High School) in 1938. She attended Webster College in Webster Groves, Missouri, where she was chosen to represent the freshman class in the prestigious May Day ceremony.

She attended Southeast Missouri State University before graduating from Miss Hickey's Secretarial School in St. Louis in 1942. She was employed by the Chicago, Wilmington and Franklin Coal Co. in St. Louis and was an active volunteer in the USO before returning to Cape.

She met her husband, Michael G. McCrate, of Portageville, Missouri, upon his return from serving in the South Pacific during World War II. They were married April 14, 1948, and together raised six children.

She was a lifelong member of Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church, where she served as a greeter for many years. She was instrumental in helping to have the historic church listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. She was a member of PEO (BI Chapter) and was a former member of Psi Psi Psi (Alpha Omega Chapter.)

Her hobbies included playing bridge, dancing, trout fishing and traveling with her husband aboard his Bonanza aircraft.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Michael G. McCrate; her children, Carolyn (David) Hajduk, Kitty (Mark) Anderson, Mike (Mary Kay) McCrate, Janet (Vernon) Hafernik, Margaret (Bill) Parrish and Sean (Rossana) McCrate; 21 grandchildren, Kristina, Mark, Bridget, Jared, Joe, Chris, Nick, Sarah, Megan, Steven, Laura, Mary Therese, Will, Katherine, Caroline, Mary Margaret, Anna Christine, Nathalie, Stephanie, Jennifer and Luke; and four great-grandchildren, Walter, Jack, Kathleen Cecilia and Andrew Thomas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Delia Braun; and her sister, Bessie Braun DeLisle.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Old St. Vincent Catholic Church, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to Old St. Vincent Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.