Nancy's eulogy
Our dad was a dedicated soldier, a tireless scholar, a trusted colleague, a patient husband and a loving father.  
He was also a quiet man of few words, but for those of you that knew him, you knew he genuinely cared about you.  He was engaging in his own way and knew how to listen.  
One way my father shared his affection for others was through his baking.  The years my parents spent in the service were some of the best years of their married life.  They had many friends and they entertained on a regular basis.  Entertaining often consisted of parties at the homes of fellow officers, so games and recipes were both shared, and as much as my mother learned to cook and bake, my father learned right along side her.  My father loved to bake, he had a sweet tooth that he shared figuratively and literally with me and Terry.  In his later years he would bake and bring his sweets to our house.  It was hard to say thanks but we really don't need the calories, so we ate; clearly.  He would always say - oh the kids will want it.  
Our dad may have been an engineer, but he also valued the written word.  He was an avid reader and emphasized with his students the importance of the the ability to write.  As an engineering professor, he always included writing a paper as an assignment for the semester.  I'm sure his students would have preferred to stick with engineering theorems, but I am also confident that the world is a little better for his insistence that his students also know how to write.  
Dad was patient and encouraging.  We took my father overseas twice.  The driving scenarios included driving on the wrong side of the road, the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car, backwards gear shifting and lots of roundabouts.  Needless to say it was stressful.  Ross would drive and I would navigate.  This was a recipe for daily frustrations and arguments as I would get frustrated when Ross ignored my directions and Ross would get irritated when I was unsure or too slow with what to do next.  The whole time my dad would be in the back seat saying, oh come on you two - you're doing great.  Ross you're doing great.  Several decades before, he told my friend Kathy and I the same thing our first semester of college when trying to help us study for our calculous final.  I remember him demonstrating problems on the board, hugging both of us and sending us off telling us you're both going to do great.  So my father was a cheerleader even when he had no evidence to support his blind confidence.  My father could have this sort of blind confidence because he knew what really mattered in life and it wasnt driving on the busy streets of Edinburgh or passing calculous.
Dad loved life and family and he dedicated himself to both especially his wife, our mother.  After she passed we were able to take him on numerous vacations.  He loved it and so did we: from the outer banks of North Carolina, to the shores of the Oregon Coast to Scotland, Ireland and finally this past summer all 9 of us including my and Terry's family went to Nova Scotia.
Dad loved the church and taught me that having a strong faith always, would comfort me, and indeed it has.  When I found that my father had passed, I was initially devastated that he was alone, but then I had to remind myself that he was not alone, as surely the Lord was with him and now he has joined a different family reunion with our mother, his brothers, parents and his friends.  
Dad passed in his sleep.  This was God's gift to him and in turn his gift to us.  So by design, we did not have a proper goodbye, and thus we did not and will not say goodbye, but instead we will feel your handprint on our hearts and know you are with us.  You were cherished and your legacy lives in your children and your grandchildren and in the stories you shared with the family.  Thank you dad, give mom a kiss for us, and don't let her boss you around too much.  Love you dad.

Mr. McLean,
Sir, I would just like to say thank you for your years of dedicated service and sacrifice for our Country when you served in the USAF-especially during the Vietnam War. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Tom has been a constant source of faith and encouragement for The Clement Family throughout our lives. We will miss the perpetual Mass cards sent for birthdays and holidays, comforted in the belief that he continues to pray for us in the company of angels and saints above.  
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be."
John 14:1-3

We are holding The McLean Family close in thought prayer.  May God give you comfort and peace, 

Jana and Ray Flynn and Family.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Thomas J. McLean

5 septembre 1931 – 3 janvier 2017

Martin Funeral Home

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service