Thomas Morton McClain
Rev. Thomas M. McClain, age 83, finished his courageous battle with Alzheimers Disease at home in the loving arms of his wife of 60 years, and family, on February 14, 2011. The son of Ted and Hazel McClain, he was born on October 26, 1927 in Bartlesville,
Oklahoma, moving shortly thereafter to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, graduating from Ft. Smith High School in 1945.
He worked for the United States Geological Survey Department, helping with the study of the streams and rivers in this region, ultimately resulting in the development of the dams and lakes on which he eventually spent enjoyable time with friends and family. He was called to the ministry and was a graduate of Ouachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
He married Mary Lowder McClain in Ft. Smith on December 24, 1950. He was the pastor of Spradling Ave. Baptist Church, then enrolled in Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, completing his Master of Divinity degree. He pastored at Valley View Baptist Church in Farmer’s Branch, Texas, then First Baptist Church, Rosenberg Texas before moving his family to Springfield, Missouri in 1967. He pastored at Glendale Baptist Church 1967 – 1992, then retired but served as interim pastor for many area congregations until 2007, while also a member of Second Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife Mary; son, Thomas D. McClain; and daughter, Karen-McClain-Smith and their families, all of Springfield; and brother Jerry McClain of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sisters, Barbara Orme, Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and Gloria Cochran, Little Rock, Arkansas, and their families.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 18, 2011 in Glendale Baptist Church, Springfield,Missouri. Graveside service and burial will follow that afternoon in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 17, 2011, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in Greenlawn Funeral Home East in Springfield.
The family wishes to thank Oxford Hospice for the compassionate care extended to him during his illness.
Thomas Morton McClain