Eva B. MacGregor, 93, of Roanoke, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2019. She was a resident of Elm Park Estates for 18 years before a brief stay at Raleigh Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. Eva was born on September 13, 1926 in Paighton, England. As a teenager, she courageously lived through the bombing of Plymouth, England by the Germans, beginning in 1940. She frequently had to spend days in a bomb shelter. For her safety, she was relocated to the countryside. This later inspired her to join the British Royal Air Corp where she proudly served as a meteorologist during WWII. There she met her beloved husband, William “Mac” MacGregor, who was serving in the US Army Air Corp, also as a meteorologist.
She came to the U.S., a land she knew nothing of, as a young war bride in 1946 and became a loyal U.S. citizen on November 17, 1959. Eva left behind a note, along with the American flag she received at her Naturalization Ceremony, that said, “I did this for you (Rob, Rory, and Catherine).” She goes on to say, “I was overjoyed later on in years when I found out that I am, and always will be, British under the British Law.” Eva was so proud of her British heritage.
As newlyweds, she and Mac lived in Pittsburgh, PA before moving to a log cabin in rural Roanoke County in 1957, where she lovingly raised her three children. Eva had several jobs in her career, including Piece Goods Fabric Shop and the Salem TAP Daycare Center. She was a founding partner in The Craft Tree, a craft co-op that operated every Christmas for many years and was also a partner in the Bramble Bush Craft Shop. Talented and creative, Eva expressed herself in many ways, including ceramics, sewing, knitting, quilting, weaving, and other artistic ventures.
A devoted homemaker, cook, and baker, her specialty was delicious Christmas cookies that everyone loved. She enjoyed reading and was an avid fan of British programs on PBS. Her love of cats was obvious, for she always took in strays that needed a home, and it must have been common knowledge among the neighborhood cats due to the large number of them that showed up on her doorstep.
Eva was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, William “Mac” MacGregor; her infant son, Gregory Andrew; parents, William and Eva Crabb; and sister, Dorothy Moore.
She will be greatly missed by those left to celebrate her life: beloved sister, Jean Francombe of Plymouth, England; sons, Rob MacGregor and wife, Mary, of Martinez, GA., Rory MacGregor and wife, Fran, of Roanoke, daughter, Catherine and husband, Barry Davis, of Roanoke; grandchildren, Robert and Scott MacGregor, Paul MacGregor, Sara Jennings, and Clay Davis; great-grandchildren, Autumn, Drew, Lucas, and Maddy; also, many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, November 25, 2019 at Church of the Holy Spirit, 6011 Merriman Road, Roanoke, VA in the Chapel at 2:00 PM. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “Feeding America.”
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