Grace Florence MacNeill

Grace Florence MacNeill, born 9/21/1924, passed away in her home 10/20/2021 at age 97. A Bay Area, California native, she lived in her El Cerrito home for over sixty years.

Grace met her longtime husband and lifelong friend, C. Don MacNeill, while youths in school in Oakland, and after graduation she worked locally for the war effort. She was an alumnus of UC Davis and UC Berkeley, earning a masters in Library Science while raising a family. She went on to work many years as branch librarian in Contra Costa County libraries, including a bookmobile which served rural east county. As Head Research Librarian of her cherished town of El Cerrito for twenty-five years, Grace knew the people of the community and was loved and appreciated.

Grace enjoyed being with her three daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She loved camping and hiking, taking yearly trips with family to mountains, redwoods, rivers, oceans, and California and Arizona deserts. Being a member of the Contra Costa Hills Hiking Club, she was active in helping with their newsletter and treasured the friendships of its members. Heading the annual book sale for Friends Of El Cerrito Library, Grace’s beloved presence was well-known, and she often spoke of her appreciation and affection for the dedicated Friends group. She was an avid reader, especially appreciative of the biological and natural sciences as well as local history, also finding interest in the local historical society. She was politically active, attending local meetings and donating generously to a great many groups and issues she felt strongly about. Grace also gave of her time volunteering many years at the Richmond Pantry of the Food Bank. When finally retiring from that she greatly missed her co-workers and the people they served.

In her last months Grace and her family were so very appreciative of the local Ace Hospice nurses and the Senior Helpers caregivers that helped her daughters surround her with loving care. No memorial is planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a favorite charity or Friends of El Cerrito Library.