THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD
St. Augustine, Florida

Corrine Ina McCullar, Hastings, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, July 15, 2011 at Moultrie Creek Nursing Home.

Born on a dairy farm, into a large family of 12 siblings, in Pittsville, Wis., her hardworking parents were of German-Polish descent. During the depression years, at a young age of 13 or 14, she left home to become a live-in housekeeper for a small wage, meals, and room and board. Later, she worked as a waitress in a drug store, but soon moved into the cosmetic department and excitedly tells about being able to sell vitamins for a penny or two commission. She later moved to live in the St. Paul, Minn., where she met her future husband, Charles McCullar.

His Coast Guard station was located nearby and Sailor Charlie courted and convinced her to marry him in 1945. Once World War II ended and hubby Charles was discharged from the service, they moved back to his hometown of Hastings, Fla. She was never thrilled after living in the big city to have to move back to live on the "farm!" She tells about, after saving up her egg money (on the sly) so that they could afford to pay for the doctors, she announced to Charlie that they were ready to start their family. Family was everything to her and she wanted a large family, and after two daughter, and one "tractor girl," they finally had a son, which completed their family.

After the baby boy, Chuck started school, she felt she could work part time outside the home and applied and was hired by the United States Post Office to worked as Charlie"s assistant rural mail carrier. So whenever Charlie wanted to go hunting or fishing he would contact his assistant to fill in for him. She was the assistant mail carrier for 20 years and upon Charles" retirement, she took over the Hastings and East Palatka 100-mile a day mail route until her retirement. Affectionately called "Speedy" by her colleagues, she wasn"t one to let grass grow under her feet. Because she had to leave home at a young age, she never completed her education and one item on her "bucket list" was to complete high school. So 25 years later, she proudly completed and received her high school diploma. She called herself a "late-bloomer" and at age 40-something had her kids teach her how to ride a bicycle, so she and Charlie could tool around the neighborhood on their bikes.

Until the end, she had a strong work ethic, enjoyed and took pride in taking care of her home and yard. To Charlie she was known as "honey," as devoted wife, to her kids she was known as "Reen" or Corrina as a loving mother and to her grand kids, she was known as "Namie." As teenagers, her daughters referred among their selves about their Mom"s rules regarding what you could and couldn"t do, as "Reen"s not going to like that!"

"Namie" always had a special place in her heart for babies and small children, and said of herself that she was the original home-body. She was a wonder planner, and loved looking after and taking care of her family, giving them roots and wings. She instilled Christian beliefs and faith and as a family took them to church every time the lights were turned on. Corrine liked life best when she could live it on her own her terms. She shared Charlie"s interest in vegetable and rose gardening and was only too happy to fish for Red Sea bass at the beach with him and was especially delighted when she could "out-fish" him!

Visitation will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. on Friday at Craig Funeral Home. A graveside funeral service will be held at 10:30a.m. on Saturday at Pellicer Creek Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by Charles, her husband of 64 years. Survivors include daughters, Cheryl Notthingham, (Add), Nassawadox, Va., Louise Hillier (Ken) Jacksonville, Fla., and Carol McCullar Brandvold (Steve) St. Augustine, Fla.; and son, Charles McCullar Jr. (Judi) Bunnell, Fla.; and eight grandchildren: Addison Nottingham, III, (Marti) Lovettsville ,Va., Aarin Nottingham, Nassawadox, Va., William Hillier (Mandy), Jacksonville, Fla., Wesley Cordell, Palm Coast, Fla., Ashley, Boca Raton, Fla., Adam, Bryce and Zachary Brandvold, St. Augustine. Her brothers and sisters preceded her in death.

Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park in charge of arrangements.