Obituary of Joyce Elaine McRae

Joyce Elaine McRae, 78, of Banning, CA, took her last breath the morning of Tuesday March 7, 2017 in the comfort of her home in Sun Lakes Country Club, Banning, CA. A celebration of Joyce’s life will be at 11am-1:30pm Friday, St Patrick’s Day March 17, 2017 in the south clubhouse in Sun Lakes, Banning. Joyce was born in San Diego, CA to Onn Looper and Eleanor Buono Looper on June 9, 1938. She went to Helix High School. She married Robert (Bob) McRae on October 21, 1956, in San Diego, CA. One month after she married, Bob was drafted into the army and they moved to Texas. First to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and then later to Fort Hood. After their two children, Denise Yvonne and Lawrence Robert were born, the McRae’s moved their family to Banning, CA in 1968 where Joyce and Bob took over a Farmers Insurance Agency. Joyce obtained a real estate license in 1972 and after two years of real estate college courses at Mt. San Jacinto College she went on to earn her broker’s license. Bob followed suit and in 1975 the couple opened McRae Realty and their own insurance office. Their territory of sales ran from Cherry Valley to Cabazon. Joyce became very active in the local community and was immediately invited to join the Banning Junior Women’s Club. She took on the project of assisting the Banning Special Education Class. She raised funds to purchase items needed for the classroom. It was such a success, the club submitted it to the State of California Jr. Women’s Club projects and won 2nd place beating out much larger cities and clubs. She was awarded “Junior Woman of the Year” in 1972. Joyce served on the Board of the Banning Chamber of Commerce several times as well as the Banning, Beaumont, Cherry Valley Board of Realtors, ultimately elected as State Director as Treasurer and later President. As a member of the Banning Soroptimist Club and President in 1995 & 1996, Joyce made “Education” the theme of her Presidency. She, along with other members, volunteered as tutors at Hemerling Elementary. After moving into Sun Lakes Country Club in 1994, Bob and Joyce decided to specialize in selling real estate in the 55+ community and changed the business name from McRae Realty to Sun Lakes Realty. Six years after Bob’s passing, Joyce decided to retire from real estate in 2003. Her son Larry and daughter-in-law Cheri took over the family business. Joyce believed in giving back to the community she loved and felt the Pass Area had been good to her and her family. After retirement, she dedicated time to volunteer. The very first Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) that took place in the Pass Area was in 2004 with Joyce as the co-chair along with Dorothy Ellis and Lee Hackney. The infant event raised over $100,000 and was one of the largest first time events ever held. For this, all three women were awarded the “Community Service Partners of the Year” from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. In 2005 Joyce was asked to join the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. She was elected Chairman of the Foundation two years in a row. During this time the bond was passed to build the two-story emergency department and ICU. After her terms on the Board, she then volunteered for the Hospital Auxiliary and many years in the hospital gift shop. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert McRae, Brother Don Looper and Brother-in-Law Edward McRae. Joyce is survived by daughter Denise McRae (Cathedral City, CA), Son Lawrence (Larry) McRae & Daughter-in-Law Cheri McRae (Banning, CA), and granddaughter Cortney McRae (Highland, CA). In lieu of gifts, memorials can be given in her honor to the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Foundation. http://www.sgmhf.com/