Raymond Lee McClain, MSgt. USAF

Raymond Lee McClain passed from this life to his eternal home on February 1, 2025 at the Clyde Cosper Texas State Veteran’s Home in Bonham, Texas. Raymond was born on April 26, 1935, to Sep Youree McClain, Jr. and Sinnie McClain (nee Oliver) of Apple Springs, Texas. He was the first child of the family and was blessed with five sisters and one brother and grew up, for the most part, in the Kounze, Texas, area of Southeast Texas. He briefly attended Kounze High School (and would later obtain his high school equivalency while serving in the United States Air Force).

Raymond married the love of his life, Tiny Merel Davis, of Chicota, Texas, in 1958 and shared a wonderful marriage for over 60 years. He was a devoted Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, and Great-Great-Grandfather and an example of a true patriarch.

Raymond served his country in the United States Air Force for 23 years. During those 23 years of military service, he earned 4 medals (the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Civic Action Medal) and many service ribbons. He would honorably retire from the Air Force to The Colony, Texas, in 1978 and begin a second career with Dallas North Builders Hardware for an additional 15 years after-which he would retire.

From an early age, Raymond was an avid fisherman and hunter, probably to help to supplement the family’s food requirements, but still loved to do so recreationally well into his 70s. He taught anyone who would go how to fish and hunt and the proper way to react to not catching as many fish (or downing as many squirrels or deer) as he did; that is, to him it was not about winning, it was about “teaching moments.” (now, to be fair, some of his sisters and brother insist it may have been the other way around). His sisters also recall pulling cotton with him, borrowing his car (perhaps with permission?), playing hide and seek with them, and teaching them to swim (albeit, because they would not give up a tube necessary to play a radio). Our mother’s sisters recall his returns to His kids and grandkids recall him playing catch with, or attending games of, his sons, daughter, and grandchildren). He also loved to play dominos and poker and his sisters, brother, children, nieces, nephews, and friends will remember many, many late night games (usually upon his return from his many military duty stations) at their homes or during family vacations at the Sheppard Air Force Base Annex at Lake Texoma (and the dimes and quarters he invariably deprived them of; again, with some insisting it may have been the other way around). Later in life, he would spend a great deal of time watching old westerns.

Raymond was preceded in death by his wife, Tiny Merel McClain (nee Davis), his son, Ray Lynn McClain, his father, Sep Youree McClain, Jr.; his mother, Sinnie McClain (nee Oliver) and his sisters, Kathleen Dorton and Katy Flagen. Surviving Raymond are his sisters Eva Louise Ford (nee McClain), Carrie Francis Harper (nee McClain), Doris Juanita Gillard (nee McClain) and his brother, Esker Youree McClain.

His legacy and memory will live on through his children, Jerry Ray McClain of McKinney, Texas, Janice McClain Jacobs of The Colony, Texas, and Alexander Scott McClain of The Colony, Texas; his grandchildren, Josephine Alexis Tidwell (nee McClain), Joshua McClain Jacobs, Kristal McClain Jacobs, Taylor Nicole McClain, and Rebecca Elise McClain; his great-grandchildren, Landon McClain Jacobs, Isla James Tidwell and Indie Lee Tidwell; and his daughter-in-law, Melanie Ann McClain (nee Strickland) and son-in-law, Chris Jacobs.

Raymond was loved and will be missed.