EAST PRAIRIE -- James Gerald McLain, 83, died at 4:38 p.m. Feb. 9, 2013, at his home.
Born Jan. 26, 1930, in the Four Corners community near East Prairie, son of the late Floyd Edward and Annie Powers McLain, for over 35 years he lived in the St. Louis area where he was employed as a maintenance supervisor at the Washington University and was a member of the U.A.W. Unions. A veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, he also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the First General Baptist Church in East Prairie.
On Sept. 2, 2004, he married Bonnie Louise Weems Carlyle McLain who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one son, James Edward McLain of Greenville, Miss.; four stepsons and daughters-in-law, Bobby and Darla Carlyle of Charleston, Phillip and Robin Carlyle and Martin D. and Lisa Carlyle of East Prairie and Scott and Diana Carlyle of Tulsa, Okla.; three stepdaughters and two sons-in-law, Connie Crocker and her fiance, Larry Stuckey, Bonita and Barry Patrick and June and Jimmy Wheatley of East Prairie; three sisters, Rose Ann Moore of East Prairie, Patricia Delfin of Branson and Janet Salazar of Springdale, Ark.; and two grandchildren, 25 stepgrandchildren, 40 great-stepgrandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Paul McLain and Carl McLain, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until time of services at 1 p.m. today at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Buddy Hannah and Randy Eskew will officiate.
Burial with full military graveside rites conducted by the Missouri Funeral Honors Program and the U.S. Air Force will follow in the East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Jimmy Wheatley, Elmo Jackson, Steven Baker, Drew Ivie, Keith Moore and Martin Carlyle Jr.
Online condolences can be made at www.shelbyfuneral.com.