Michael Ferris McGrath, age 88, died peacefully in Walnut Creek, California July 21, 2021. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who will be remembered for his caring nature and positive outlook on life. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin on January 18, 1933 to Hazel and Malcolm McGrath.

After graduating from West High School in Madison, Mike began his studies at the University of Wisconsin before spending two years in the Army serving at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and Ft. Hood Texas. He returned to University and received a degree in Geology with extra work in petroleum engineering. While at the university he was a proud member of the Hoofers outdoor club where he met his first wife Karen Center McGrath and the mother of his children, Kerry Patrick and Kathleen Elizabeth McGrath. Although they divorced in 1981, they remained friends, often taking joint vacations and celebrating holidays with their kids.

In 1960 Mike went to work for Texaco as a geophysicist starting in Midland, Texas and moving on to Farmington, New Mexico, Houston, Texas, Huntington Beach, California and then back to Houston where he eventually began working for Gulf. In 1973, Gulf moved Mike and his family to London, England where they lived for four years before Mike took off to Zaire for a few years before returning to London where he met and married his wife Christine. She and her 7-year old son, Yusuf, immediately brought a new joy to Mike’s life.

After Chevron purchased Gulf in 1984, Mike said “they bought us like a sack of potatoes.” Then in 1986, Chevron transferred Mike to the San Franciso Bay Area where he worked until retirement. A resident of both Danville and San Ramon, CA, Mike took advantage of the pleasant weather taking long walks in the neighborhood. An avid Sudoku player, he taught anyone willing to learn and volunteered to teach lessons at the Danville Library.

As a child, Mike was a member of the Boy Scouts and was thankful for the male role models his leaders provided. As a father, he helped lead Kerry’s troop and the two had fond memories of campouts. He also enjoyed coaching Kathy’s softball and soccer teams and Kerry’s little league baseball team. As a grandfather, he was present from day one. For 25 years, Mike traveled to Texas twice a year to spend two weeks with his Texas grandkids. He chauffeured them to practices, cheered them on at games, entertained their friends with his stories and helped them with their homework. All the neighborhood kids loved to watch Grandpa Mike fake an act of distress as they popped his suspenders. Later, he was fond of visits with grandsons Nathan Sonnenfeld and Marcus Bhana, where he would share the same stories he had with the older grandkids. Mike loved dogs and he always told the story of his beloved dog, Clancy, that was given to him by his high school girlfriend.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother Hazel, brother Terrence, sister Patricia. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Christine; children, Kerry McGrath (Dixie), Kathy McGrath (David Sonnenfeld), Yusuf Bhana (Kari). Grandchildren: Sean McGrath, Ryan McGrath, Megan McGrath, Brendan McGrath, Nathan Sonnenfeld, Marcus Bhana; ex-wife Karen McGrath.

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