Elisabeth Ann McGrayel, of Nashville, passed peacefully from this life on Sunday morning, July 9, 2023. Elisabeth was born in Columbus, Indiana on February 7, 1958, the daughter of William H. and Mary Elizabeth Cain Greller McGrayel. She was 65 years old. Elisabeth was born with multiple disabilities, both physical and intellectual. She spent much of her first five years in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. After multiple surgeries she returned home and the family began the process of loving and teaching her. Information was learned slowly but she was always so eager to try. Her mom, Mary, decided it was time to create some special education programs for Brown County Schools so she left her job as a 4th grade teacher, returned to IU for another Masters’ Degree, and soon started the first special education classes in Brown County. Simultaneously, Bill and Mary McGrayel joined with a small group of parents in Monroe County, to begin some sort of learning opportunities for children with more severe disabilities. Their first step was to acquire use of the old Headley School which then became a classroom for students with more significant needs. That was the birthplace for the idea of a sheltered workshop and other learning/work opportunities for the community, hence the beginning of Stonebelt Developmental Services, where Bill and Mary became some of the first board members of this outstanding organization. Elisabeth was preceded in death by both parents and a niece, Kate McGrayel. Elisabeth is survived by brothers, Charles (Buddy) Greller (Diana), Jim McGrayel of Nashville and sister, Lucy McGrayel of Nashville, cousins, Cynthia (Jim) Miller of Columbus, Celia Kraatz of Champaign, Illinois, Bill (Linda) Sherwood, Miami, Fla. Nieces and nephews, Matthew (Nikki) Greller, Sarah (Nate) Roberts, Jen Dryzga, Abraham McGrayel, David McGrayel, Hannah McGrayel, Angela McGrayel and their families. Her extended family of cousins, great nieces and nephews is extensive. For many years Elisabeth has been supported by loving friends and neighbors in Nashville and by her housemates, friends and caregivers throughout Stonebelt. We are deeply and eternally grateful for Brown County Health and Living angels who so lovingly cared for Elisabeth in these last months. Elisabeth lost her hearing, her ability to walk and lived her entire life with many other disabling conditions, but she never lost the kindness in her soul, her compassion for others and her ability to see the good in every situation. She frequently said, “I prayed for you today.” Sometimes the greatest faith and purity of spirit come from those the world judges as the least. Her strength of character, her compassion and her gentle acceptance of life as she experienced it, was a great example for us. There will be a family burial service on July 19 @ 11 am in Greenlawn Cemetery in Nashville. Memorial contributions may be made to Stonebelt Developmental Services. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BondMitchellFuneralHome.
