Thomas J. McGrane passed away of natural causes on October 15, 2020, in Murfreesboro, TN, just eleven days shy of his 90th birthday. Tom was born in Carroll, Iowa, the son of Clarence McGrane, Sr. and Catherine Ruddy McGrane. After serving honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Tom returned to Iowa, where he met his future wife, Margaret Elizabeth Kirkpatrick of Clare, Iowa. Tom and Beth married in October of 1957 and started a family, while Tom completed a combined degree in Business and Engineering at the University of Nebraska. The family ended up in Tucker, Ga in 1970, after several moves around the country due to new jobs or job transfers for Tom. Once in Tucker, Tom decided to start his own business, which put an end to the job transfers, so he and Beth spent the next 30+ years in their home in Tucker. During those years, Tom and Beth were very active members of their parish, Holy Cross Catholic Church. Tom volunteered as a cantor at Masses, since he was blessed with a beautiful singing voice - and with the confidence to share it. Then in 1987, Tom was ordained as a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church, and he spent the next 30+ years thoroughly enjoying his time serving as a deacon in Atlanta and then Murfreesboro, TN, when he and Beth decided to move to Tennessee where two of their daughters were living. Tom especially enjoyed time with family and friends, and was known for never meeting a stranger because of his easy-going manner and his ability to accept everyone on their own terms. He also had a never-ending willingness to lend assistance to family, friends, and strangers in any way possible. His life was a true testament to what it means to live a good and faithful Christian life. Tom lost Beth to dementia in May of 2017, after personally nursing her in their home for a number of years. Tom is survived by his daughters Mary Crenshaw (Tim) of Monterey, TN, Sharon McGrane of Woodstock, GA, Susan Coonce (Jim) of Nolensville, TN, Jennifer Schulte (Rick Morris) of Murfreesboro, TN, and his son, John McGrane, of Murfreesboro, TN. He is also survived by grandchildren Kevin Crenshaw, Paul Schulte, Emily Fitzpatrick (Keith), Ashley Morris, Savannah Morris, and his great-grandchildren Jonah and Silas Fitzpatrick, Isaac Moss, and Everly Swander.
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