Iris McRae

Iris Smith McRae, 87 of Monroe, NC took Jesus’s hand and ascended into heaven on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

Born July 3, 1934, on Mill Hill in Wadesboro, NC, she was the first daughter of Florence and Walter Smith. Her father died in a plane crash in 1950. Her mother later remarried Harold Forester. Harold became a devoted father and stepfather to her and her five siblings until his passing.

Known affectionately as Grandmother, or the “Merita Bread Store Lady”, Iris had a huge heart and spent her life giving to others.

She retired from Merita in the late 90s and was devoted to her family whom she loved dearly until her passing.

Family meant the world to Iris and she spent countless hours caring for loved ones over the years.

She would be the first person to send a card and lift a prayer to those hurting or in need. Her enduring love for the Lord was her guiding light.

On Thanksgiving 1949, Iris barely survived a head-on collision that left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and unable to walk. With perseverance and the help of her family, she was able to get back on her feet.

However, her trauma did not stop there. She also endured early barbaric treatments for mental breaks in her twenties, brought on by her TBI and an undiagnosed mental health condition that she battled silently to overcome and was often misunderstood because of this. She was also a cancer survivor. There is no doubt Iris was a survivor.

She worked hard throughout her life and achieved a sense of independence and success in adulthood that she often dreamed of as a child.

Iris had an amazing sense of style and often enjoyed shopping with her best friend Betty Jean. She valued all of her friends very much.

Along with her giving nature and huge heart, she also possessed immeasurable strength, and perseverance, all of which she passed down to her children and grandchildren.

Iris always said she had a “good life”, never giving herself credit for overcoming the amount of adversity she faced.

Iris never talked about herself, always more concerned about the hardship of others and how she could help them.

She will be remembered for her fiery red hair and the passionate way she expressed herself.

Most importantly, she will be remembered as a strong, independent woman and a survivor with the biggest heart you will ever find.

Iris’s family would like to thank the folks at the Council of Aging in Union County(COA) for always being there to support her. She loved her friends at the COA.

In lieu of flowers or formal service, the family would ask for you to donate in the spirit of Iris’s generous ways to the Council on Aging In Union County or to the charity of your choice.

Iris Smith McRae's final earthly resting place will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, where her family will gather at 11 AM on Monday, June 6th, 2022 for interment.

The world will be a quieter place without her fiery spirit. Her family will never be the same after her loss. She will be dearly missed as a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.