Melvin G. “Cap” McRae, (Ret BFD) age 87, of Brockton, died January 4, 2018 on Cape Cod surrounded by his family and friends. Cap was the loving husband of the late Barbara A. (Crocker) McRae for 52 years. Born and raised in Brockton, he was the son of the late Melvin J. and Doris W. (Silvia) McRae. He graduated from Brockton High School in 1948 and received his associates degree in Fire Science from Massasoit Community College. He was an Army Veteran and served in Germany during the Korean War. Cap was a member of the Brockton Fire Department for 32 years and retired as a Captain in 1988.
Before entering the Army, he attended the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He loved growing his beautiful geraniums and other flowers in his greenhouses. His hobbies also included woodworking. With his beloved wife Barbara, he enjoyed traveling all through the United States and Europe. Cap most enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and teaching them what life was all about. He treasured his time on Cape Cod and enjoyed the company of many friends at his local hangouts, especially his Thursday morning coffee group, with his fellow retired firefighters.
Cap is survived by his daughter, Barbara MacKinnon and her husband William and their children Billy MacKinnon, Courtney Voorhees and her husband George, and Michael MacKinnon, his son David and his wife Carla and their children Maggie and Matthew, and his daughter Patricia and her children Jennifer and Camella. He is also survived by a number of great grandchildren. Cap loved all animals but had a special place in his heart for his four legged best friends Patrick and Fitzgerald.
The family would like to take this time to thank the staff at Massachusetts General Hospital and the VNA/VNA Hospice of Cape Cod for the excellent and compassionate care given to our father and us.
Visiting hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, Thursday, January 11, from 4-8pm. The funeral procession will gather at the funeral home Friday at 8am for a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 9am. Burial will follow in Melrose Cemetery. Please consider donations in Caps name to the Strand Theater Memorial Fund, PO Box 868, Brockton, MA 02303 or the Brockton Firefighter Pipes and Drums, PO Box 4141, Brockton, MA 02303.