JESSE WILLIAM MCLAIN

Jesse William McLain, 80, passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was the longtime city fire marshal.

He was born on Jan. 28, 1918 in Oriole, the son of Burnis Monroe and Myrtle May (Comer) McLain. He married Velma Thompson on Aug. 24, 1940 in Benton, Mo. She passed away on Dec. 23, 1980.

He was a veteran, serving in the US Army during World War II in the European Theatre. As a young man he was in the CCC Corps and then he worked for Reisenbichler Lumber Co. until 1949 when he joined the Cape Girardeau Fire Department where he served until his retirement in 1980 as the city fire marshal. He was a member of the VFW and the Red Star Baptist Church.

He is survived by a son, David and Phillis McLain of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Cleta and Jack Mandrelle of Jackson; three brothers, Ivan and Bill McLain of Cape and Jack McLain of Foley, Ala.; four sisters, Clara Mahy and Mary Wissman, both of Cape, Carrie Wilhelm of Scott City and Susie Bryant of Baytown, Tex.; three grandchildren, Brian Hedge of Jackson, 1st Lt. Shawn McLain of Ft. Drum, N.Y. and Kristy McLain of Cape; two great-grandchildren, Kyle and Hannah Hedge, both of Jackson. Five brothers preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Sunday at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am Monday, January 11, 1999, at Red Star Baptist Church, the Rev. Don Stevens and Rev. Cy Smith officiating. Graveside services will be conducted by the VFW Post #3838 at McLain Chapel Cemetery at Union Creek.

Pallbearers will be Gerald McLain, Tommy Mahy, Jim Wilhelm, Randy McLain, Zane Wissman, Mark Wissman, Roy McLain and Paul Wayne Wissman with honorary pallbearers representing the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.