Lowell Allen "Mac" McLain

Lowell Allen McLain “Mac” passed away Sunday September 27, 2015. He was born July 26, 1929 to Lawrence and Flossie McLain in Mattoon, Illinois. Survivors are his wife Jean and four children; Karen McLain Bowman (Ray), Steve McLain, Janet Robbins, and Larry McLain (Debbie). Mac took great pride in and had boundless love not only for his wife and children but also for his grandchildren Crystal Harms (Rich), Amber Boshart, and Angie Natale (Pasquale); and great-grandchildren Alec Ray, Isiah Ray, Alek Harms, Meghan Harms, Ashlyn Boshart, Connor Boshart, and Pasquale Jesse Natale. He is also survived by one brother, Gene McLain (Ruth) and felt so blessed when they were able to spend time together. Growing up on a farm instilled a love of animals and nature in Mac. As the youngest of five children, life was tough, but simple, and never boring. Graduating from a small, country (one-room) elementary school, and then from Mattoon High School in town, he lived life as a self-taught learner, always curious and persistent in figuring things out. He loved his wife, Jean Ann, as much as life itself. They met while he was home on military leave, and they both knew they had found life-long love. He always reached for her hand any time they were walking side by side. Inspired by his new father-in-law’s example, he developed an abiding faith in God, and converted to Catholicism a couple of years after their marriage. His spirituality was deeply-rooted from then on. He was one of the original members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community in Viera, FL where he served for many years as one of the Head Ushers. Because of his illness he was not able to be active in his new parish of Queen of Peace in Gainesville, but fell in love with the priests and congregation at our first attendance at Mass there. Mac’s 86 years were busy ones: he retired from U.S. Air Force after serving 21 years in various locations in the U.S and assignments in Japan, Korea, Germany and Vietnam; he retired from Sears with 20 more years under his belt and during that time held positions of large appliance salesman, Customer Service Manager, satellite Store Manage, and Contract Sales Rep for Brevard County; he and Jean owned Fat Boys Bar-B-Q of Melbourne for ten years where they were fortunate to have a great crew and missed them when the restaurant was sold; and then not to get bored after retirement, he and Jean volunteered managing U.S Forest Service recreational facilities for six years. When he finally said farewell to his years of employment, he and Jean traveled to 49 of our 50 states and most of the Canadian provinces in their 40ft Monaco motorhome. A bout with kidney cancer ended their traveling days, but this gave him more time to enjoy card games with friends and neighbors in Melbourne, FL and later poker with new friends and neighbors at The Village in Gainesville, FL. He loved travel, reading, fishing, and playing cards. Anything with a motor got his attention – cars, boats, motorhomes, tools, toys; if it had moving parts he’d figure out how it worked. Mac was completely devoted to his family and so enjoyed when they could all be at a gathering. Our lives will never be the same without him, but we are thankful for the values of a disciple of Christ he not only taught his family, but demonstrated throughout his whole life. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, 823 NW 143rd St, Gainesville/Newberry. Mac’s life will be celebrated with a mass on Monday, October 5, 2015 at Queen of Peace Catholic Community, 10900 SW 24th Avenue, Gainesville, FL

Lowell Allen "Mac" McLain

July 26, 1926 - September 27, 2015