George McRae

Daniel George McRae passed away on the morning of May 19, 2026 due to complications from kidney failure. George was born November 25, 1938 in Jordan, Montana to Jack and Mary (Kerr) McRae and spent his early years on the family sheep ranch 25 miles east of Jordan. George was the third youngest of eight siblings with his two younger siblings being twins. His father passed away when he was a child (age 2) and he was cared for by his mother and older siblings. George started school at Van Norman, a one room school house, that was a few miles from the family ranch and had a total enrollment of 3 students. After a few years Van Norman moved 12 miles down the creek and it was determined too far for young George to walk. His mother brought the younger children from the ranch to Missoula during the school year. George finished his elementary education at Willard School and later attended Missoula County High School. George's mother died when he was 11, but his older siblings continued to have a home in Missoula so the younger children could continue their education. After graduating high school in 1957, George attended the University of Montana and finished his BA in Mathematics in 1960 and his MA in 1961. George headed to University of Washington to work on his PhD.

While in Seattle at the University of Washington, through mutual eastern Montana friends, George met his life-long partner and wife, Neva Frances Maurer, who was working as a dental hygienist. George and Neva were married on June 15, 1963 in Seattle and their daughter Loreen was born in 1966. George was awarded his doctoral degree in 1967 and accepted a faculty position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne. Prior to starting at University of Illinois, George and two other recent doctorates toured western Europe on bicycle. They spent the summer visiting various countries and sleeping under the stars at night (or under tarps if it was raining) and visiting with the locals. George spent the next three years teaching at the University of Illinois and, while there, George and Neva's son Scott was born in 1968. In 1970, George and Neva and their children moved back to western Montana and George took a faculty position at the University of Montana in the Mathematics Department where he spent the rest of his career. George and Neva established their homestead up Miller Creek south of Missoula. The Miller Creek home became a frequent place for math faculty gatherings and family and friend get-togethers. George's first love was teaching and his second love was ranching. The move to Missoula allowed George to fulfill both his loves by teaching Mathematics at the University of Montana and raising sheep, chickens, horses, and cattle at the Miller Creek acreage. George spent many evenings cooking up steaks and fish for various get-togethers over an open fire pit in the backyard and serving vegetables grown in their large garden.

In the 1976 - 1977 school year, George participated in a faculty exchange program in which he took over the classes of a Mathematics professor at Georgia Institute of Technology (Dr. Herod) in Atlanta, Georgia and Dr. Herod took over George's classes. George, Neva and their children spent the year living in Stone Mountain, Georgia. This allowed George and his family to spend time with his younger brother, Walter (Bruce) who was living in Athens, Georgia with his family. The two families spent almost every weekend visiting National and State parks in the region and many special events in the southeastern United States, including a traditional Scottish Highland games competition.

George retired from the University of Montana Mathematics Department in 2014 but he continued to cover classes occasionally for professors for a few years after his retirement, and was a mentor for many students, faculty, family and acquaintances. He was always willing to explain how to solve any math problem to any student, family member, or neighbor that asked for assistance and was known to spend hours at times on such explanations. He was a life-long learner and well versed in many subjects including Montana ranching and early pioneer families. It seemed like no matter where George went, there was always someone there that he knew or recognized. George was known to visit for hours and at any gathering it was guaranteed that he would be one of the last ones to leave. George was an active and involved grandfather to his five grandchildren. He went to many concerts, recitals, performances, races and plays in which his grandchildren were involved. George was an avid hiker, camper, skier and horseman and always enjoyed spending time outdoors exploring and enjoying the beauty around us. George typically took at least one outdoor trip each summer. Sometimes it was a backpacking trip into the Missions, Selway-Bitterroot, or Lolo national forests, or packing in with horses or llamas into the Bob Marshall or floating the Missouri. He even took part in larger trips which included circling Mount Rainier on the Wilderness Trail and hiking the Grand Canyon from rim to rim and back again. George always packed his outdoor kitchen with him, including an old iron skillet with which he was able to create culinary delights over the open fire and create lasting memories of great meals, good companionship, and beautiful vistas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Neva; his siblings, Charles, Catherine, Mary, John, Robert and Walter (Bruce). He is survived by his children Loreen (Mark) Skinner and Scott (Kristy) McRae; grandchildren Kerra Skinner, Kaitlyn Skinner, Matteo McRae, Nicholas McRae, and Maggie Skinner; and sibling Jackcee Anderson. His knowledge, guidance, and conversations will be missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him. He had a great sense of humor with a quick smile, and a giving heart. A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 11 AM, at Garden City Funeral Home (1705 W Broadway) in Missoula. A reception will follow at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George's honor to a charity of your choice. Following George's wishes, his body has been donated to science and after cremation, his body will be returned to his family.