Rosalee Irene McCain, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 1, 2024, surrounded by her family at The Grove, in Columbia, MS. She was born in Lawrence County, MS November 9, 1930, to Burrow Fleet Bozeman and Ruby Irma Carney. Irene retired from Forrest General Hospital in the early ‘90s, where she worked for over 17 years. She went on to work part-time for David Cox Realty until 2019, after turning 89 years old. Prior to her employment at Forrest General Hospital, she worked at the old Dixie Reliance/Big Yank Factory, sewing pants pockets. She prided herself as an avid seamstress as she would make beautiful draperies, bedspreads, costumes, prom dresses, performing alterations and tackling furniture upholstery. Irene wore many hats, was very independent and could do almost anything. She dearly loved her family, grandkids, and her bonus kids, Nick and Ella Eavenson, who she had the privilege of being a true “nanny” to for many years. Irene had a green thumb for plants, collected wind chimes, loved to go camping with her grandkids, and traveling. Her favorite place was Reno/Lake Tahoe, NV in the snow, and The Great Smoky Mountains in TN.
Ms. McCain was preceded in death by her parents, Burrow Fleet Bozeman and Ruby Irma Bozeman; a sister, Kathleen Bozeman Price; brothers, Elton Bozeman, and John Winston “Cotton” Bozeman; and siblings by marriage, Dorothy Sanders Bassenger, and J. P. “Josey” Bozeman. She is survived by her sister, Louise Bozeman Spencer of Hattiesburg, MS; and her half-brother, John Wesley (Terri) Bozeman of Pensacola, FL. Her memory will be forever cherished by her son, Dwight Lee McCain (Dewana) of Lumberton, MS; daughters, Debra McCain Fillingame of Hattiesburg, and Celeste McCain McInnis of Gulfport, MS; three grandchildren, Dana McCain Martin (Shane) of Columbia, Vanessa Vincent of Gulfport, and Daniel Scott Fillingame (Holly) of Meridian, MS; two great-grandchildren, Dylan Martin (fiancé Leah) of Hattiesburg; and Madison Martin Terry (Tyler) of Columbia; and her special friend, Chellie Hastings, along with her children Nick Eavenson and Ella Eavenson, all of Argyle, TX.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia where family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until service time. Reverend Darrin Powell and Reverend Johnny Martin will officiate and burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery assisted by David Michael Bozeman, Hunter Bozeman, Tyler Terry, Dewayne Hamilton, Shane Martin, and Dylan Martin as pallbearers.
