JESSE WOODROW MCLAIN

Jesse Woodrow McLain, 80, passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was a longtime city firefighter.

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 Feb. 3, 1980.

He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European theater.

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 from which he retired in 1980 as the city fire inspector. He was a member of the VFW and the Red Star Baptist Church.

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

Five brothers preceded him in death.

Visitation was from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. Friends may also call today from 9 to 10 a.m. at Red Star Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. today, Jan. 11, 1999, at Red Star Baptist Church, with the Rev. Don Stephens and Rev. Cy Smith officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted by the VFW Post 3838 at McLain Chapel Cemetery at Indian 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.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Red Star Baptist Church.