Claris Edna McCray

Sunrise 2/2/1932

Sunset 9/5/2025

Claris Edna McCray was born on February 2, 1932, in Middlesex County, Virginia. She was the youngest girl of a family of eight to the late Webster and Millie Brown. She moved to Philadelphia to live with her older sister Mabel Ward when she was 18 years old and it was in Philadelphia that she met her future husband, Leroy McCray. Their union was blessed with four daughters, and they married in 1962. When Leroy was offered a job as a machinist at a new company called Boeing, they drove across the country with four young daughters to Seattle, Washington.

Claris was a devoted, mother and wife, and successful business owner. She and her husband started a maintenance janitorial company that became very successful. She also had experience working as a nurse aide at the University of Washington in the burn center.

Anyone who knew Claris knew that she loved life and lived life to fullest right up to her recent illness.

Everywhere she went people would gravitate towards her and she was well loved in her community. She was a gentle soul, had a beautiful smile and treated everyone with respect. However, she could also be feisty and had a witty sense of humor.

She loved animals, plants, gardening, going out to eat and going for long drives. She also had a keen interest in watching crime and mystery shows as it kept her mind active. Her favorite show was dateline. 

She adored her grandchildren and raised her grandson Marco when she lost her beloved youngest daughter Karen in 2012. She was a woman of faith with a sentimental and giving heart. She was always there for her family, providing a supportive ear in times of need and avid cheerleader for all their accomplishments. Her optimism and resilience towards life was always present, especially her resilience and belief in the power of prayer. Despite her failing eyesight and mobility, she rarely complained and was always ready to go out for a weekend jaunt either to a restaurant or a drive.

Claris loved her animals. She loved all her “fur baby grandchildren “as she called them, especially Simba her 20lb. Maine Coon cat and Caleb a 10lb. Yorkshire puppy. Both Simba – who looks like a lion – and Caleb, who she called her own little, “Dennis the Menace”, slept with her every night.

She woke up every morning and said, “as long as I put my feet on the floor, I’m good.”

Claris was blessed to live a long life, and her home was always full of love, laughter and joy. Family meant the most to her, and she had a life well lived.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Charmayne, Tansy, and Lorie. Son-in-law Mike Cyra and beautiful grandchildren, Tony, Marco, Sam, Kobe and Clara.

Claris was proceeded in death by her beloved husband Leroy McCray, beloved daughter Karen. She was the last of the Brown family to pass and proceeded in death by three sisters Eloise Ward, Mabel Ward and Gertrude Wyche, four brothers Stephen Brown, Edward Brown, Stanley Brown and Harry Brown.

However, she also leaves behind a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.