(1888-17 Feb. 1967), undertaker. (Archie McRae, A. D. McRae) Parents: Donald A. McRae (d. 25 Jan. 1938, in his 84th year), who was born in West Hawkesbury Township, and his wife who, unless he was married more than once, was Catherine Fraser (d. 1926). About 50 years before his death, Donald A. McRae, who was also a merchant, established the Vankleek Hill firm of D. A. McRae and Son, funeral directors. Archie McRae, who was for many years director of the firm, became one of the best-known and most-successful professional men in his part of Eastern Ontario. The firm conducted the funeral of many Glengarrians, including, to name only one, John E. McIntosh (the writer “Sandy Fraser”). Archie McRae was noted to be an extremely precise man, who conducted funerals by a detailed and inflexible set of rules. His firmness and sternness were sometimes resented by relatives, but the public accepted also–a consideration not unimportant in the stressed circumstances of a funeral–that when a member of the family was buried by Archie McRae, nothing was being done in a second-rate way. He was married to Jean Lois McDougall. Archie McRae died at Vankleek Hill. Presbyterian and Presbyterian elder. He is buried at the McLaughlin Cemetery (Aberdeen Cemetery), south of Vankleek Hill. The Presbyterian Church in Canada received by will in 1977 a large bequest from McRae and his wife. The records of the firm D. A. McRae and Son covering the years 1890-1966 are in the Queen’s University Archives (60 cm shelf space). Until 1997, in keeping with terms on which the records were donated to Queen’s in 1977, the records were closed to the public.

Vankleek Hill Review 23 Feb.,& 30 March 1967 * private information * obituary of Donald A. McRae, VKHR 3 Feb. 1938 * MacMillan, Kirk, 402 * Anne MacDermaid and George F. Henderson, A Guide to the Holdings of Queen’s University Archives, [Vol. I], 2nd edn. (1986) 66