Patricia "Mama Pat" M. McLean

Patricia Mills McLean, 80, of Raleigh, NC, died peacefully Sunday, December 30, 2012, with her daughters by her side. Patricia, “Mama Pat” to family and friends, was born May 23, 1932 in Raleigh, NC to Lillie Mae Caldwell Mills and Willie Braxton Mills.

She married the love of her life, Carlton Aaron McLean, on September 27, 1953. He preceded her in death on May 6, 1988. She worked as a bookkeeper at Boylan Pearce Department Store, but she took great pride in what she considered her true calling in life, that of wife and mother.

She enjoyed an active life. She loved sports, especially NCSU football and basketball, was a 10 year season ticket holder and fan of Carolina Hurricanes Hockey, as well as a lifelong NASCAR fan.

Mama Pat was known for her expertise in cooking, but her claim to fame was her ability to decorate cakes. She was a certified cake decorating instructor, and for a few years was one of the cake decorating judges at the NC State Fair.

Mama Pat was of Scottish heritage. In 1998, her youngest daughter, Betsy, took her for the first time to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. She immediately felt great joy and connection to her ancestors, and from that first visit, she was destined forevermore to be a central figure in all things “Clan McLean!” In 2008, she received the “Audrey Peebles McLean Award” as Clanswoman of the Year.

She is survived by her daughters Connie McLean Sutton (Frank), Betsy R. McLean, brother, W.B. “Butch” Mills (Eva), and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and a large and loving extended family

Visitation will be Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 12:30-2:00 p.m. at Mitchell’s Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, to be followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Burial immediately following service at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh.

Condolences and fond memories can be shared at www.MitchellatRMP.com.