Lorraine was born July 11, 1924, to Alex and Anna (Nelson) Adolph, Volga German immigrant farmers. She was raised on a small farm in Southeast Fresno with two siblings, Robert and Marian Adolph. She attended Sanger schools graduating from Sanger High in 1942.
During WWII, this once shy country girl left the farm for nursing school at St. Mary's Help Hospital in San Francisco. Although the war ended before she became an Army Nurse, she felt honored to have tended to wounded soldiers while learning a career that would take her off the farm.
Back in Fresno, after the war, she met and married her husband Raymond Patrick McNally in 1946 and proceeded to have five children in seven years.
With money borrowed from family and their fifth child on the way, Lorraine helped Ray and his brother Paul found California Business Machines. Lorraine assumed full management in 1980. All her children worked in the business at one time or another with her daughter, Teri McNally-Brymer; and son, Tim McNally continuing the family business today.
Despite juggling her roles as daughter, wife, mother, friend, nurse and business woman, she always found time to be a great mom; even hosting a Brazilian High School exchange student, Erildo Montero, who along with his wife and daughters has remained part of the family.
Lorraine eventually gave up her nursing license to devote needed time to family and business. She became one of the first women to sell office equipment in the country.
Although never a "libber", she was a pioneer for women active in business and community in Fresno - often being one of the first women to join previously 'men only' organizations. Besides being proud of her achievements in managing her family's business, she was committed to supporting many organizations: Fresno Kiwanis, Sales & Marketing Executives, Executive Association of Fresno, Business Association and Institute for Family Business of the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno, Bulldog Foundation (avid Bulldog fan), Business Technology Association, Fresno Chamber & Better Business Bureau.
Never having left California until age 40, she traveled the U.S. and around the world with her fellow Kyocera Mita copier dealer family.
Among her passions over the years were reading, crosswords, sewing, golfing, cooking, dancing, and her bridge group.
Lorraine truly lived to work and continued working full-time until her recent illness this year. She was the ultimate networker and made friends easily wherever she went. Although she hated being away from the office, she made the most out of her last six-month battle with Cancer by taking the time to reconnect with many of her friends and family.
Special thanks to the doctors and nurses who cared for her these past few months at St. Agnes Medical Center, Willow Creek, along with her many supportive friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond P. McNally; brother, Bob Adolph of Oregon; and parents, Alex and Anna Adolph.
She is survived by her five children, Mike McNally and his daughter, Kathleen Eads, Maureen Patton and her husband Tom of Redwood City, Tim and his partner Roberta Odahl and their sons Brian and Charles; Marc, and Teri Brymer and her husband John; sister, Marion Sheffield of Stockton; sister-in-law, Renee Adolph of Washington; many nieces and nephews; and Nelson and Adolph family relatives.
In memory of Lorraine, Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Friday, December 2, 2011, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Rick Cox officiating. Interment to follow at Belmont Memorial Park. A lunch reception will follow at California Business Machines.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fresno Kiwanis; or American Cancer Society.
Arrangements under the direction of Stephens & Bean Funeral Chapel, Fresno, CA.
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