From the Lily group. A truly kind and generous man. Edward Austin McRae October 25, 1932 - November 16, 2008 Edward A. McRae was born October 25, 1932, in Echt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of William McRae and Barbara Jeannie Smith McRae. He was reared by his grandparents William Smith and Wilhelmina Ferguson Smith after his mother’s death in his infancy. After an apprenticeship at Fyvie Castle Gardens, he served in the Royal Air Force as a weather telegrapher in the Suez Canal. He then completed studies at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden, remaining as botanical foreman for four years. In 1961 he joined Jan de Graaff’s Oregon Bulb Farms, in Sandy, Oregon, hybridizing lilies there for over 25 years. In 1988, he began hybridizing lilies at Van der Salm Bulb Farms, in Woodland, Washington. Upon retirement in 1995, Ed founded the Species Lily Preservation Group, centered at Lava Nurseries in Parkdale, Oregon. During his career, he authored numerous articles on lilies and the book Lilies: A Guide for Growers and Collectors. Ed was a founder of the Pacific Northwest Lily Society, deacon and elder of the Sandy Community Presbyterian Church, and past president of the Sandy Kiwanis. Ed became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1986 but was always proud of his Scottish heritage. Ed and Judith L. Freeman were married in 1972; their daughter Catherine Joy McRae was born in 1974, and their son Andrew Edward McRae was born in 1980. Ed and Judith divorced in 1990 but remained friends and colleagues, and Judith continued to oversee Ed’s care as his health declined in recent years. Ed is survived by his son Andrew, his daughter Catherine Joy van der Salm, his son-in-law Ruud van der Salm, and his granddaughters Juliana van der Salm and Annelies van der Salm, all of Vancouver, Washington; his sister Pearl Ledingham and his brother Alaisdair McRae of Scotland, 3 nieces, 3 nephews, 5 great-nieces and 3 great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Barbara, brother James, father William and brother-in-law Robert Ledingham.. The family is deeply appreciative of the wonderful care Ed received from Sofia Filip, Livia Gagea, and Tina Bogdocian at the Kay Family Home in Vancouver, Washington, where he moved after suffering a stroke in July 2006 They made it possible for Ed truly to enjoy his last years, surrounded by his family, his friends, and his lilies. A memorial service for Edward A. McRae will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 29, at Vancouver First United Methodist Church, 33rd & Main Streets, Vancouver, Washington. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Files <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Photos <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Database <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> ALL content is copyright and MAY NOT be used for any purpose without the express written permission of the author/photographer. Yahoo! Groups <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJjdWczbjlyBF9T…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest <mailto:Lilium-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> | Switch format to Traditional <mailto:Lilium-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/…> | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:Lilium-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 1 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/…> Sell Online Start selling with <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13oi9b0j8/…> our award-winning e-commerce tools. Yahoo! Groups Going Green Zone <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13omhd904/…> Learn to go green. Save energy. Save the planet. Moderator Central Yahoo! Groups <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13ocfhnt8/…> Join and receive produce updates. . __,_._,___