Elizabeth McCray Garner, 83, passed away peacefully in Berkeley, CA on March 5, 2026. Born on July 31, 1942, to Howard Stowe McCray and Erma (Winn) McCray, Elizabeth was a kind woman, with an adventurous spirit, a saucy sense of humor, a deep love for her family, and a distinctive laugh that everyone loved.
A graduate of DePauw University, Elizabeth moved to Chicago to work at IBM as one of the few women in the tech industry at the time. After putting her career on hold to raise her four children, she returned to the workforce in the early 1980s as a Systems Analyst for McDonnell Douglas, and later, Graybar Electric. Upon retirement, she relocated to the West Coast to be closer to family, living first in Portland and later in the Bay Area.
Elizabeth loved the following things, in no particular order: dogs, rainy days, Broadway shows, Reese’s peanut butter cups, The Who, flying kites, riding horses, psychological thrillers, WWII films, gardens, Greek food, harp music, swimming, Sudoku, Christmas traditions, foreign travel, pop culture, crossword puzzles, kombucha, being near the ocean, surprise visits from family members, sewing and home improvement projects, classic literature, cats with attitude, Van Gogh paintings, and laughing with her whole heart.
Beloved mother of Jennifer (Gregory Comlish) Garner, Anna Garner, Andrew Garner, and Dylan Garner; loving grandmother of Sylvia Comlish and Makenzie Garner; father of her treasured children David Garner; cherished sister of Howard Winn McCray and John (Margrit) McCray; dear friend of many.
Elizabeth’s life was celebrated at three events: first, with a small family gathering in the hills of Marin, followed by a beautiful memorial at Silverado Berkeley Memory Care, and then at an online event with friends and family from all over the country.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the East Bay SPCA —https://eastbayspca.org/—a fitting tribute to Elizabeth’s lifelong love of animals. In honor of Elizabeth, have a glass of kombucha or a Reese’s and say “I love you” to someone special.
