Dan McGrew

November 23, 1925 - September 29, 2015

Dan McGrew

November 23, 1925 - September 29, 2015

Obituary

On the afternoon of September 29, 2015 Dan McGrew passed away with members of his loving family near including his wife of 63-years, Doris McGrew. Before passing, his 5-year old great-granddaughter, Ireland McGrew, gave him a card and leaned in to let him know he would always be in her heart.

Dan McGrew was born at University Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on November 23, 1925 to Van Buren McGrew and Nora McGrew. He was the fourth of ten children. Several times the family would relocate within Oklahoma during Dan’s childhood; he would call Edmond, Stillwell, and Webb City home at various times.

At the age of twelve Dan began to take work farming during the hot summer months. It was then that he first learned how to drive a crop tractor and a car, how to plow a field, how to run a seeder and cultivator, and to grow and harvest crops such as cotton and wheat. For his efforts he earned fifty cents a week along with room and board. From the age of 12 to 17 he would work all over the state of Oklahoma including the panhandle, the Arkansas boarder, and the Red River Valley. He travelled primarily by hitchhiking.

Dan’s father, Van Buren, worked as a pipefitter and plumber in the nearby oilfields and Nora was employed as a school teacher. Times were tough however. Oklahoma in the 1930s was home to the Dust Bowl disaster and rapidly became a grim place to live as the Great Depression wore on. The family would eventually move to the Los Angeles, California area in 1942 when Dan was 17-years old.

Upon relocation to Los Angeles, Dan, a year shy of his 18th birthday, decided to join the United States Merchant Marines. During his early years with the USMM, Dan served aboard a wide range of ships such as tankers and liberty ships supporting the United States in the Pacific Theatre of World War Two. Much of his pay was sent home to his parents to help support them and his brothers and sisters. Upon the surrender of Imperial Japan, Dan continued with the USMM in what would turn out to be a nearly 38-year career at sea.

In 1951 Dan began work with the Keystone Shipping Company. His first duty with the company was as the Third Assistant Engineer aboard the 10,500-ton, 504-ft long S.S. Bunker Hill. Overall he would serve on at least 13-different Keystone operated vessels over the course of 28-years with the company with nearly half of those years of service functioning as the Chief Engineer. His final station as Chief Engineer was in early 1980 aboard the S.S. Kenai, a 100,000-ton tanker; the Kenai was a far, far cry from the crop tractors of his youth.

Though rising from the dusty windblown farms of Oklahoma to the station of Chief Engineer is in itself an impressive feat easily his greatest accomplishment is the family he raised with his wife Doris. He met Doris Lucia Rael in December 1951 on a blind date set up by his sister, Peggy. The two would be married soon thereafter in the whirlwind of whirlwinds. Their marriage took place at four A.M. in a jail house in Mesa, Arizona but only after a somewhat annoyed Justice of the Peace was roused out of bed to officiate the wedding; the Justice was reported to be just half-awake during the ceremony but he managed to get their names right. With the marriage to Doris, Dan had an instant family as Doris was already mother to two young children, Lucia Baca and Douglas Baca. The family grew when, a little more than a year after Dan and Doris were married, Dennis V. McGrew was born to the two with Dan P. McGrew arriving a couple years after that.

Dan would take his family up and down the west coast as his job required. Years were spent near various home ports in California but between 1959 and 1974 the family resided in Anacortes, Washington before returning to California. Upon retirement, Dan and Doris would reside for a time in Sun City, CA before moving to Bellingham, WA in 1984 to be near their grandchildren. Living just a couple of blocks away from his grandchildren, Dan and Doris were able to take the children of Dennis and his wife Shannon (Justin, Marlys, and Nathan) fishing. These fishing expeditions often began at the unfathomable hour of four A.M., the same hour the Justice of the Peace was roused in Mesa, AZ to officiate over his wedding to Doris. It is suspected that Dan McGrew had an affinity for the four o’clock hour, be it A.M. or P.M., because to Dan four P.M. was popularly known as “martini time!”

Dan was always there, tremendously happy and proud, to watch his grandchildren grow up. He was at all their birthdays, graduations, and many of their sporting events (he took a picture of Justin hitting his first homerun). Holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving were often held at the home that Dan and Doris shared. His eyes twinkled with silent joy as he watched his grandchildren rip open their wrapped presents each Christmas morning.

He will be missed at family gatherings as time moves forward but his strong voice and laughter will forever echo in the memories of those who love him.
Surviving Dan McGrew is his wife of more than 63-year, Doris L. McGrew, their children Dennis and his wife Shannon, Dan, Lucia and husband Bob, and Douglas. The surviving brothers and sisters of Dan are Michael McGrew, Connie Runyon, Virginia Cantarini, and Peggy Pavich. Dan’s grandchildren include Justin McGrew, Marlys McGrew Turtzo, Nathan McGrew, and Adam Williams. Dan McGrew was a loving great-grandfather to six; Gabriel, Madiline, Elizabeth, Ireland, Van, Leo. Dan is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank Hospice and especially Peg Rogers for their kindness, care, and professionalism.

Memorial Service

  • Date & Time: October 10, 2015 (12:00 AM)
  • Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes- Bellingham
  • Location: 2465 Lakeway Dr Bellingham, WA 98229 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (360) -73-3-0510

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7 responses to Dan McGrew

  1. To Doris and all the family, My deep and sincere condolences to all of you, and especially to my neighbor Doris. I’ll miss seeing Dan almost daily on his walks to the mailbox, and I’ll especially miss our chats as he stopped to pass the time of day anytime I was out working in the yard or garden. One day, we were both delighted to find that we almost shared a birthday–mine is November 24–although he laughingly reminded me that he’d celebrated a few more than I had. He was proud of his health and vitality, and all of us in the neighborhood were always so impressed with how active and vibrant he was, especially before last year’s fall. Dan was such a dignified, elegant man, but still as warm and friendly, as funny and down to earth, as a neighbor could ask for. I’ll miss him, and share your loss.
    –Janet

  2. I was very saddened to hear of Uncle Bucks passing. Aunt Doris my family is praying for you and your family.

    I have many fond memories starting with stories my Mom would tell of her and her big brother. Of when he would come to port in San Diego and they would get together, sometimes only if it was a few hours but you could tell it was a special time for them. My Mom was very close to her brother.
    Later in life my family was blessed to have Uncle Buck and Aunt Doris along with my mother and father stay a few days with us in our home. There were several of the McGrew brothers and sisters and a few of their cousins in town. We put together a BBQ dinner for all to meet. Well when my Dad and Uncle Buck arrived, one of them noticed my kitchen faucet had a small drip. Long story short I think the two of them re-plumbed the whole house by the time they were finished. And they finished in time for Martini Happy Hour.
    I think that’s the kind of guy he was. When he saw a need he would lend a hand to help. He was a good person. When I was young and my Mom would talk about her brother, I thought he must be John Wayne, but Uncle Buck was bigger, he was real.
    A few days before my father passed away in 2001 I was visiting him at his home. He was very excited to see me because he wanted to tell me about a dream he had had. He said in the dream he was somewhere he hadn’t been before and it was so beautiful, there were lots of people there some he knew others he didn’t. He was working outside with everyone preparing for a big event, a great reunion. He was so excited and happy about that dream, it was so real to him. He passed two day later.
    I choose to believe my Dad and Uncle Buck and all that have gone on before us are working, preparing for that great reunion.
    And trust me, if the McGrew, Hoeg & Cantarini boys are in charge, this will be some big blow-out event!

    Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

  3. Cj says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss! Did you know that soon you’ll be reunited with your loved again! The bible says at John 5:28,29… “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to resurrection of life… How comforting that is to be with your loved one again! www.JW.org

  4. Mary Carter says:

    My heart is broken at the loss of my favorite uncle. I have so many happy memories of Uncle Buck coming to port and us going up to meet him while he was in. He will be missed here on earth but his memory will never die from my heart. I am sorry I can’t be there with all oft you during this sad time but I am with you in love. As I went to sleep last night I was thinking of the scene that must be going on in heaven right now with the daddy and Uncle Buck reuniting after such a long time. The scene I imagine makes me smile.
    I have always had a special place in my heart for my Uncle Buck and my Aunt Doris and of course my two special cousins, Dennis and Danny, so many good memories.

    I love you Aunt Doris and pray for you to find peace on earth until you are reunited with the wonderful man you loved.
    Love always
    Mary

  5. Aunt Doris. Rob and I were saddened to hear about Uncle Dan’s passing. I loved hearing the stories about you waiting for him to come back into port after a long time out to sea. You both had a wonderful and loving life together of 63 years. We love you and you will be in our prayers. Loretta Helling and Rob Smith

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