Rogers Co. Obit for: Russell Harding McClain ************************************************************************ http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogers/rogers.htm Rogers County Archivist: Bill Cook, billcook44@aol.com Submitted to the Rogers County Oklahoma Archives Date: 11/13/2002 by: Bill Cook, billcook44@aol.com ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ 10/13/2002 Dr. Russell Harding McClain The going-home celebration for Dr. Russell Harding McClain will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Chapel of the Garden at Rice Funeral Service. Dr. McClain went home to be with our Lord on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. Monday with family there to receive visitors. McClain was born in Benton, Ark. on Sept. 1, 1910 to William and Cora Burrow McClain. He was reared and educated in Malvern, Ark., having lived in Benton only until one year of age. Russell graduated from high school in Gurdon, Ark., in 1930, and went on to college. He left school after one semester in 1931 when his father was killed. Being the oldest of five children, he took on the responsibility of helping his mother care for the family. A wonderful teacher, Mrs. Mooney, concerned about his future, counseled McClain to return to school. He took her advice to heart, eventually earning a doctorate from Columbia University in 1955. McClain was educated at Henderson State College in Arkadelphia, Ark.; Centenary College in Shreveport, La.; Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.; and Columbia University in New York City. On Oct. 8, 1933, Russell was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Lillian Aleene Yarbrough, in England, Ark. The couple was blessed with one daughter, Marilyn. She was Russell's pride and joy, along with his granddaughter, Amy, and great-grandson, Jonah. McClain's long teaching career began at the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark. During World War II he worked in the government printing office in Washington, D.C. He was assigned to work on the magazines that Charles de Gaulle secretly dropped by air over France, because he could speak and understand the French language. He was employed as an editor by the New York Times while studying for his degree at Columbia. On a leave of absence from the newspaper, he become administrator of the Typopublishers' Welfare and Pension Funds - a position he held for eight years. Dr. McClain taught psychology, history and related subjects at New York University and later as a professor at Ocean County College in Toms River, N.J. He retired as Head of the Social Science and Public Administration Department on March 1, 1977. Russell and Lillian designed and built a home in Gurdon, where they had met and courted. Several months after they moved into their new home, Russell was persuaded to run for Mayor, an office which he held five years. McClain lovingly cared for his sweetheart, Lillian, who had become ill with Alzheimer's disease just a few years following his retirement. In 1993 the couple moved to Claremore to be near Marilyn and Amy. In 1997 his beloved Lillian passed away. They had been married 64 years. McClain was a member of the Masonic Lodge, serving as Master of the Lodge and also Commander of the Commandery in New York City. He served as President of the NYU Faculty Torch Club and President of the Rotary Club in Gurdon. He was a member of several Rotary Clubs throughout the years, including the Rotary Club of Claremore. During his "retirement" he served as Executive Secretary for the International Lumberman's Association, and editor of their magazine, positions that took him to many parts of the world. He also volunteered as a peer counselor through Claremore Regional Hospital where he had been treated for a broken leg he received while golfing, a sport he enjoyed well into his 80's. He was a member of the Methodist Church, where he served as an usher, President of the Men's Club and taught many Sunday School classes. While living in Claremore, he faithfully attended First Baptist Church, where his daughter and granddaughter were members. As chief of his Cherokee family tribe, an honor and responsibility passed to Russell from his father through his Uncle Radford, he was responsible for the care of his family. He enjoyed researching his family history and tracing his lineage. He has authored four books, and was working on his memoirs and family history at the time of his passing. McClain is survived by the following members of his loving family: his daughter, Marilyn Russell McClain of Claremore; granddaughter, Amy Lynne White and husband Jeremy of Tahlequah; great-grandson, Jonah Lynn White of Tahlequah; brother, Frederick Glenwood McClain of Texarkana, Ark.; sisters-in-law, Mary Lu Stitt of Benton, Ark. and Artis Ann Knight of Alexander, Ark.; three nieces and three nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and his beloved wife, Lillian. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Russell H. McClain to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Rotary Club of Claremore Scholarship Fund would be appreciated. ************************************************************************* Transcribed from the Claremore Progess Newspaper, we sincerely thank them for allowing us to post these obits on the Rogers Co., OK USGenwebpages http://www.claremoreprogress.com/ *************************************************************************