John Lucas McGrady, Jr., 19 days before his 92nd birthday, was promoted on February 24, 2014, to the heavenly place prepared for him by the Savior he served. A loving, cheerful man with a great sense of humor and adventurous spirit, he loved learning new things and savored life. His daily goal was “to be somebody’s sunshine”. Born March 16, 1922, in Birmingham, he was raised by his sister, Tomera Taylor, losing his mom at his birth and his dad, “a streetcar man,” when he was 12. He attended high school in Sylacauga and then Alverson Draughn Business College in Birmingham. He was working at TCI (TN Coal, Iron, and RR Co.) as a clerk when he was drafted in the U.S. Army as part of the Greatest Generation. He served as a staff sgt. in the Army Air Forces, 643rd Squadron, 409th Bombardment Group, as chief clerk of the squadron’s engineering office, stationed in Great Britain, Belgium, and was “headed to Germany” when WWII ended, as his typing skills at the induction center in Atlanta earned him placement of his choice of service sector. After his honorable discharge and earning medals, some of which were delivered 50 years later at his 80th birthday party, he took advantage of the GI Bill and entered Auburn University, then known as API (Alabama Polytechnic Institute), graduating from Pharmacy School in 1949, the first of his family to attend college. When he graduated, there was a family celebration and many pictures were taken. He served his pharmacy internship in Sylacauga and Tuscaloosa, working with Mr. Jimmy Harrison, who later developed Harco Drug Company. He then moved to Florence to work at Putteet’s Pharmacy with a friend, Carl Putteet, whom he had met in Pharmacy School. It was ideally located next to the bustling Florence Clinic. He later operated John’s Pharmacy and worked with Mr. Arthur Ray and family at Palace Drugs until after Mr. Ray’s death and the drug store closed. He then worked at various drug stores around the Shoals until, at age 80, he decided that 51 years in a profession that he loved “was enough”. Throughout his career, he encouraged many young people to pursue their careers in pharmacy. He also loved his church, Highland Baptist Church, joining it shortly after moving to Florence. He served as deacon for many years and was named as a Deacon Emeritus, but his most fun commitment was a 40-year stint teaching 3 and 4 year olds in Sunday School. “Mr. John” sat on the floor with several generations of toddlers, lovingly making up batches of play dough for the kids and supplying wonderful empty cardboard boxes big enough for their imaginations and just right for climbing into for many adventures. A lot of them still remember the $2 bills and cards sent for birthdays and the Christmas pictures made at home in their finery before their family’s trees. Sharing these pictures with them gave Mr. John great joy. Mr. John was always taking pictures, a skill he had developed while in the service. With his prized Canon strapped around his neck, he took regular and some aerial shots of various people, landscapes, and building projects around Auburn’s married student facilities and later in the Shoals, sharing the best of what he snapped. He loved flying and became a private pilot. N2829P took him and his family to several Auburn games and family visits around the state. Tex Tatum, Wayne Brooks, and Reggie Bruce were “buds” and valued family flying teachers and friends. Surviving are his wife of 19 years, Ann McGrady, daughter Sandra Sockwell (Hubert) and son Carl Lee McGrady (Pamela); step-children, whom he loved as his own, Christina Michael (David), Tuscumbia, Lisa Pezent (Ryan), Prattville, and Patrick McCreary (Amanda), Murfreesboro. Grandchildren are Melanie K. Hollis (Ron), St. Petersburg, FL; Lucas E. McGrady (Megan) and Anna Kate Stumpe (Bradley), both of Florence. Step-grandchildren are Ashley and Levi Michael, and Reese and Garret Pezent. Great-grandchildren are Colton and Rane McGrady and Jackson Hollis, his avid “Go Fish” buddy and special pet, Peppy (thanks to Chris!). He also cherished special nieces Leigh Anne McGrady Botters (Robert) of Birmingham, giving away the bride and Laura Jane Taylor Reed (Howard) of Dacula, GA. He leaves other fond family members. Pre-deceasing him are parents, John L. McGrady, Sr., and Lera Thrasher; all siblings—Clarence (Buddy) McGrady, Mamie Shaw and Tomera Taylor; toddler daughter Andrea and first wife, Kate Morris McGrady. Visitation and celebration of his life and home-going will be at John’s church, Highland Baptist, Florence, on Friday, February 28, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. with the service to follow. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, alongside his first wife and young daughter. Pallbearers will be Lucas McGrady, Gary Green, Ron Hollis, Bradley Stumpe, Robert Botters, Jr., Patrick McCreary, David Michael, Ryan Pezent, Levi Michael, Reggie Bruce Honorary pallbearers are Senior Adult Co-ed 2 Class, Highland Baptist Church. It would please and honor John, who requested “no flowers” so the family requests that instead, memorials be made to Westminster Interfaith Caring Place (WICP), his “school” where John spent many happy hours over the past several years—WICP, 300 Industry Street, Florence, AL 35630 or Highland Baptist Church Building Fund, 219 Simpson Street, Florence, AL 35630.
Service at 11:00 AM at Spry~Williams Funeral Home on Friday, February 28th, 2014
