I would have first meet Trudy in 1976 when I was 19 years old and had just moved to NY from Ohio where I had spent my whole (long) life. For many years, I knew of her and who she was by what I saw. As I have read through the many memories left here with sometimes laughter and sometimes tears, I remembering seeing all of this.  

Over the course of almost 35 years living in New York, our fifteen year age difference seemed to lessen and as years passed, I got to know Trudy more personally and to have had the privilege of becoming her friend. As our friendship grew, I knew her, not just of her.

In trying to find one word to describe Trudy, I came up with 5! -- Courageous, Strong, Faithful, Honest and Non-judgmental. Then I finally came up with the right ONE - Corinthians 13 verses 4 -7. In my opinion, verse 7 is the essence of Trudy McGrady.

4   Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. 

5   It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.

6   It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 

7   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Until we meet again...

Trudy was one of my mothers growing up… I spent a lot of time at her house when I was little… to this day, wind chimes bring me right back to the green couch overlooking the river.

When I was old enough to work, Trudy was my supervisor in the bookkeeping department for many years… high pressure assignment is an understatement and Trudy never lost her cool, was always patient and level headed… I learned so much from her those years, things I’ve taken with me as an adult.  She was one of those people you just knew you could trust and who was never insincere or unfair.  She was just Trudy, steadfast and honest…

I’m truly sad that Trudy is no longer with us on earth… I will miss just knowing she is on earth somewhere… 

Trudy was a close family friend for all of my childhood and early adulthood. She was my godmother at baptism and her memory is woven into my earliest years as a warm and friendly grandma to many children in our community, in addition to her own grandchildren. She would babysit groups of kids, including me, and would sing us songs such as this one:

"Alice, where art thou going? Upstairs to take a bath. Alice with legs like toothpicks and a neck like a giraffe-raffe-raffe-raffe. Alice stepped into the bathtub, pulled out the plug. Oh my goodness, oh my soul, there goes Alice down the hole! Alice, where art thou going? Glub, glub, glub."

Haha, what a terrible song, right? We loved it! And now having sung it to seven of my own children, I can confirm this is an absolute childhood classic at bath time: "Sing Alice again, Mom!" And then there was, "She sailed away on a sunny summer day on the back of a crocodile..."

As I grew older I appreciated more of Trudy's qualities than just her comfy home and funny songs. I learned that she suffered chronic health issues, yet I never heard her complain. She would joke about those issues from time to time, but I remember her as always cheerful and upbeat, involved in many community projects.

I remember her inviting a newly engaged young couple to use the McGradys' apartment for hanging out anytime they wanted. "Just use this lamp and this lamp for the right amount of lighting!"

I remember her caring for years for an elderly lady named Abundia who had an apartment in the same house. Trudy would cook and share meals with Abundia many evenings, patiently walking her down the halls to sit in the McGradys' living room. Trudy would invite us young people in to chat with Abundia and read the Bible to her as her eyesight was failing.

When I was a new young mom, I remember Trudy recounting her own experiences as a new mom. She loved the baby years, she said, and her favorite memories were of cuddling her daughters in bed and nursing them. She laughingly recalled that when Maryanne was a baby, she kicked Mickey out of their bed for a while so she could sleep and feed Maryanne with plenty of space. She reported that he finally asked, "So when do you think the princess will be moving out of our bed?" Her obvious delight in those memories of her babies' early years stands out to me and reminds me to try to be present and enjoy all the precious moments in my own kids' fleeting childhood years. 

Thank you, Trudy, for sharing your home, your life, your love, and your cheerful, practical advice and stories with me over the years! You will not be forgotten by everyone whose life you touched.

I met Trudy when I was 19 years old; walking barefoot back from the pond near her house... She immediately took my arm and asked me all about myself.  I would say she was motherly to me, but she really always struck me as a young woman at heart -- I remember her telling about how a girl was bullying her at school and her dad said she'd just have to fight the kid to get her to stop.  I can still hear her accent saying "So I took off my good watch so it wouldn't get broken and thought...yes, I could hurt her" 😂.

 She had so much good advice that struck me as old-fashioned and hopelessly Southern when I was young but BOY has been proven right "You should really work on your expression - don't feel bad about it its not your fault you have a NATURALLY sulky face, but you can WORK on it"

The last time we spent time together was after she'd had a fall near their house in Sedona, and she told the story of how she's hollered for help and a nice young man had stopped and offered to go find Mickey..."When he left I realized I was still just stuck on the ground so I started hollering again and a few more nice young me showed up and I thought...I'm onto something here!"

She never stopped wanting to learn and grow and make the world a better place, and I respect her so much and am so grateful for all the friendship and mentorship she gave me.

Trudy McGrady, what an amazing friend!For over 30 years we truly were help-mates in so many aspects of life. And of course, the deep friendship of our daughters bonds us forever.

My late husband, Bob, and I, were long time friends of Trudy and Mickey in our many years at East Ridge.  Our kids were friends together and our son, Andy, married their daughter, Alissa.  Therefore we shared our grandchildren.  The last time I remember seeing them was in Sonoma, AZ standing together under a big tree having our picture taken.

Ruth Smith

There are so many beautiful feelings when I remember Trudy, the wonderful mother to the three girls I consider my sisters ( after my own sister, of course ). I will forever remember the smell of chicken cooking in the crockpot and Trudy rocking in the pea green rocking chair or was it yellow anytime I stopped by the house around dinner time. Oh and of course, the Oklahoma song (the lyrics have left me at the moment) that she would always sing to us.

Of course my proudest moment was when she gave birth to Maryanne at home ( which happened to be next to ours) on the most special day of the year - my birthday ! I can remember running across the tiny lawn and just staring at the front door of the McGrady’s house hoping to catch a glimpse of my new birthday twin.

As the years have gone by there are a million beautiful moments and memories that fill my mind and heart. The last time I saw Trudy was last year around this time … she didn’t fully remember me, but when I started to tell her about my travels and writing a book, she sat up straight , looked me in the eye and said “ I want to read that book, will you bring me a signed copy”. I will finish that book one day and you can be sure I’ll have a signed copy sitting on my desk for Trudy!

I have so many wonderful memories of Trudy. I was mothered and care for as a little girl by many people, and Trudy was one of my favorite Moms. She was so loving and welcoming. One of my very favorite memories was staying with Mickey and Trudy and the girls while my little sister was being born. I remember gathering around the phone in the McGrady kitchen getting the call that Rachel had been born. I distinctly remember being surrounded by love that day, and that love came from Trudy and the McGrady‘s home. Later on in life Trudy was an example to me of resilience, courage, and grace. I will always remember the last time I saw Trudy before she and Mickey moved to Arizona. I went to say goodbye to them. Tears were streaming down my face and I couldn’t stop crying. Trudy hugged me and smiled through her own tears, telling me everything was going to be OK. Just before I left, she pressed a coin into my hand. On it was written “With God all things are possible.” I’ve held onto that little coin ever since, and it has given me strength and comfort, especially on darker days. Two years ago, I sat with Trudy for the last time at Maryanne’s memorial. She kept patting Maryanne’s beautiful picture, as a mother would pat her child, and saying through her tears, “Sweet Girl.” And now they are finally together again. Thank you Mickey for the gift you and Trudy have been to me and the boys in our lives. Thank you Alissa and Cassie for sharing your beautiful mother with me. I will remember her with love and gratitude, always and forever ♥️✨

So nice to see all the photos here of Trudy through the years.

One of my first memories of Trudy was when my whole family had a stomach bug, and she came over to help my sick mom give sick me a bath. Trudy gently explained that she was a mom too and I didn’t need to be embarrassed that I needed help getting cleaned up, and that everyone gets sick sometimes.

It was always so much fun to race over to Cassie and Alissa’s house next door when I was little, exuberantly knocking on the door at all hours, and Trudy teaching me some good Southern manners, firmly suggesting that during meal times I should wait until later😅.

I’ll never forget being so excited when Maryanne was born. Many of us neighborhood kids waited outside by the living room bay window because Trudy had promised to let us see the new baby through the glass. We waited expectantly for the drapes to open, and then, voila! there was beautiful baby Maryanne in Trudy’s arms, a bit like a Mother Mary tableau!

Later I remember tips about how often to wash my hair. Not sure the advice worked for me with my thinner, straighter hair, but Trudy’s hair was amazing. I remember Mickey once explaining that it was even thicker and more abundant than Cassie’s!

And who could ever forget Trudy’s rice and beans with kombu. I always eagerly anticipated coming over for dinner. I have the recipe card written out for me by Trudy in my recipe book, which will now be extra special to me.

I remember Trudy’s joy, when I was traveling with Trudy & Mickey and my dad & Carol in Arizona, when we got the news in the airport that her granddaughter Aliyah had been born to Cassie.

Our families will always be beautifully connected, and for that I am grateful. Blessings to you Trudy wherever you are! And thank you for stopping by in spirit the day before you left the earth, my heart remembers.

Lots of love and comfort to Mickey, Cassandra, Alissa and all your family. ❤️🕊️

Grandma Trudy was the best grandma a boy could ask for. Many of my fondest childhood memories centered around Grandma's house-- playing by the creek, fishing in the river, digging in the dirt pile next to the woods, chasing a football with Grandpa Mickey, and Sunday evening dinners on the back deck. The smell and taste of Grandma's roast chicken and buttered millet supper will always be a benchmark of soul food for me. 

Grandma Trudy, or Bungy, as we called her when we were little, was the definition of a doting grandmother. I always felt unconditionally loved and safe in her presence. Her love for us was genuine, deep, and had no strings attached. Grandma Trudy's house was a place you could explore, relax, and feel utterly at home and at peace. There you could simply be a child and enjoy all the innocence and wonder that comes with that. Her house was full of fascinating books, quiet cubbies, comforting smells, and happy times. 

When Grandma and Grandpa moved to Sedona, their house became the go-to winter retreat for my wife and me. They'd welcome us in for weeks at a time while we explored the great outdoors all around their home. Many more fond memories were made there, hanging out in the living room drinking their homemade kombucha, going to drum circles with them, and taking leisurely walks while they told stories of their childhoods.

Grandma, I love you so much. Your sincere love and kindness for those around you was a childhood foundation for me and an example for the rest of my life.  

Trudy's daughters & granddaughters

Grandkids visit to AZ