Lynn Laureen Davis McCaw

Lynn McCaw, 69, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family and friends after a brief, but hard-fought, battle with cancer. Known to some as Mama Lynn and others as "Cro", she was the strong, quick-witted, and feisty matriarch of her family, a role she also naturally filled for so many friends in her beloved community of Waitsburg.

Born to Gale and Janice Davis of Dayton, WA, Lynn graduated from Dayton High School in 1971 and went on to attend Yakima Community College. Growing up, she was active in the Dayton Christian Church Youth Group, was crowned Harvest Ball Queen, and served on the Dayton Days Fair Court the summer after her senior year.

Lynn became a mom to daughter Amber in 1972, living and working in Dayton until she met and wed Waitsburg farmer Guy McCaw, to whom she was married for 45 adventurous years. In the early years of marriage, she was a certified medical records clerk for Dayton General Hospital, but eventually, her life and love for the McCaw farm took over. 

Lynn was "volunteered" for many jobs on the ranch. Some she liked and excelled at; some she told Guy exactly what he could do with his request. Famous for her harvest-crew lunches – surely the reason the crew returned year after year -- Lynn whipped up delicious homemade soups and desserts for more than 30 years. She expertly did every job on that farm, including bookkeeper, shuttle driver, barista, restroom attendant, parts runner, and everything in between. 

But even with her success on the farm, Lynn's proudest accomplishment was her family. After Amber, whom Guy adopted and lovingly claims as his own, came son Jesse in 1979. She raised her children to be independent, thoughtful, and driven, passing on her strength and zest to both of them. Her children also blessed her with 6 grandchildren: Tucker, Trace, Hadley, Caden, Madison, and Monroe.

Lynn's grandkids remember her as someone easy to talk to who was always on their side and who would spoil them rotten. A few months before her diagnosis, Lynn got a special tattoo composed of the first initial of each grandchild's name so "people would see it and she could tell them" about her family. 

Just as she loved her family, Lynn also loved her friends – especially her "Ya-Yas," best friends of 60 years who stuck together through thick and thin just like in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. And, yes, there were tattoos. 

In what ended up being her final couple years, Lynn found a new passion in following her granddaughters on the rodeo trail. Most weekends, she could either be found in the grandstands cheering them on at a barrel race or calling and asking for videos and results. She and Guy traveled in their motorhome and set up camp, making friends everywhere and cooking huge meals for anyone passing by who would stop for a drink while meat was on the grill. They traveled as far as Buckeye, Arizona, Winnemucca, Nevada, and every tiny town in the Pacific Northwest that held a rodeo or barrel race her grandkids were entered in. 

There are not enough words to explain how much we will all miss her. When someone has such a big personality, the hole they leave in everyone's hearts is even bigger. Lynn leaves behind her husband, Guy, her children, Amber (Mike) Roberts and Jesse (Kate) McCaw, her mom, Janice Davis, a brother, Scott (Becky) Davis, a sister, Sheila (Joe) McMillen, a father-in-law, Jack McCaw, 6 grandkids, and so many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that all loved her dearly. She was met at Heaven's Gates by her dad, Gale Davis, a mother-in-law, Laurette McCaw, and several close friends, who are no doubt showing her a good time already.

If you knew and loved her like we did, do us a favor and honor her by turning on a little "Jack and Diane" and pouring yourself a Rum and Diet Coke. Rest in Peace, Lynn... Until we meet again. 

Please join us for Lynn's Celebration of Life May 3rd at 3pm at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds in the Don Thomas building.  Food and Beverage will be provided.