John was pre-deceased by his loving wife Betty, whom he married over 60 years ago in Detroit. John is survived by his devoted son, James (Kim) Barclay; granddaughter, Mackenzie; nephews, John (Tricia) McDougall, James "Jimmy" (Catherine) McDougall, Jim (Irene) Anderson, and niece, Janet (George) Hepburn. John also developed a special relationship to his neighbors, the Boudreau family and their children.
In addition to his wife and parents, John was pre-deceased by sisters, Margaret (John) Anderson, Betty McDougall, Helen Barclay; and nephew, George Anderson.
In light of the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, a memorial service is be planned for on or around May 21, 2021.
Burial services are private on Tuesday - May 26, 2020 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
John’s passion for soccer, started as a youngster in Scotland, allowed him to establish the Livonia Youth Soccer Club and help found the Great Lakes Soccer League in the 1970’s. Alongside founding members John Moore, John Crawford and others, they supported an explosion of the popularity of soccer in Livonia and surrounding communities. He is part of the area’s soccer legacy.
John was an incredible, untiring supporter of the Livonia Soccer Club. LSC still has over 600 kids participating in it today. A scholarship fund in John’s name has been established to support children that want to play in the Livonia Soccer Club but lack the financial resources to do so. Donations can be sent to:
John Barclay Livonia Soccer Scholarship
33829 Oakdale Street
Livonia MI 48154
United States
Please share a memory of John or condolences with his family at his online guest book.
The John Barclay Story in his words
Born 5/8/1932
The Early Years:
The early years were not good for me and my family. My mother died of a tumor and me and my sister Betty were left with my grandparents Jock and Maggie Mair. I was 2 years old and my sister Betty was 3. My other sisters Margaret and Helen stayed with my Dad at 4 George Gray St., Rutherglen. They were around the corner from my grandparents who lived at 132 Cambuslang Road. Margaret was about 12 and Helen was 9 or 10.
The day my sister married John Anderson was the day I wore long pants. I looked snazzy with my nice sport jacket and flannel long pants. I was 14.
My Dad was a veteran of World War 1 and proud of being a Royal Scot! My dad was a great man – a hard working common laborer. My father died at the age of 64 from emphazema. He had been gassed in the trenches during WW1 and he was also a heavy smoker.
Here are a few things of interest about some members of my family. My grandmother Maggie Mair (Miller) was the half-sister of the famous Scottish comedian Harry Lauder who was popular in the 1920’s and 30’s. My Aunt Lizzie’s son James O’Neil was well known in Glasgow theatre in the 1940’s and 50’s. He was a comedian, master of ceremonies and a pretty good singer.
My mother’s sister Aunt Lizzie was a very loving person. She once told me that “nobody brought you up, you did it by yourself”. I always remember that. My Aunt Maggie who was delegated to take care of me got married when I was about 6 or 7. When she left to go to her new home, I ran after the streetcar for a long way, crying all the way.
I remember Granny Mair going to bed during a thunderstorm and pulling the blankets over her head. I remember wee stew day and Saturday and big stew day on Sunday.
My other grandparents were John and Helen Barclay. I was named after him. They were a nice Irish couple. They lived near Eastfield school and we visited them sometimes after school. We would have lunch with them. My grandfather had been a small farmer and worked with some of his sons and had retired. He had a small job as caretaker in a small substation of the Clyde Valley Electric Company at Farm Cross on Cambuslang Rd. This was where he met and talked with John Logie Beard, one of the early inventors of television. My Dad was born in Ireland and came to Scotland when he was one year old, but make no mistake about it he was a “true Scot”.
It is getting close to 1939 and they build an air raid shelters in our area. In one of the early air raids we all went across the street to the big air raid shelter. When we got there it was discovered that we had forgotten my sister Betty, so somebody had to go back and get her.
When I was 9 years old my dad thought it was time for me to go to work, so he got me a job delivering newspapers. Good timing! In the black-out I was scared stiff at first, but it was a good learning experience. I worked from then till the day I retired.
I left Gallowflat Secondary school at the age of 14. My first job was at the Rutherglen post office where I was a telegram boy. We delivered telegrams on a bicycle.
My second job was also in Rutherglen where I worked in a small factory called Dunlop and Jacks. We made toilet paper rolls and other paper products.
During the war I was in my early teens, and served some time in the Army Cadet Forces where we trained with wooden rifles. Boy were we ready to take on the Germans. Glad it did not happen. After the war, my Aunt Flo visited us in Scotland and one night she offered to pay one of our fares to go to America. I raised my hand, “I will go”!
I had been playing soccer with the under 18 church team. I remember the first game I played with them I took the ball from kickoff and scored a goal. Great work, John. I did not receive a pass the rest of the game – another learning experience! However, I made up for it and our team won and made it to the Scottish Cup for that level. In the semi-final, I scored 2 goals. After I left for America, the team lost the replay.
I got my Visa and Passport and said goodbye to bonny Scotland and here I come to America. I took my first airplane ride from Prestwick via Canada airlines. Then to Windsor Canada via Iceland, Montreal, Toronto then Windsor arriving I believe Friday night at the Ambassador Bridge customs. The Tigers were playing at Briggs Stadium which was lit up and shining brightly. I will remember that forever.
Uncle Bob got me a letter of introduction which I took with me to the employment office of Rouge plant of Ford Motor Company. When I saw the line I almost turned away, but I stayed in line. I finally got home in the afternoon, but I had gotten a job in the motor building and started that night on a production job. That was probably the luckiest day of my life.
I worked at the Rouge a little over a year then got opportunity to take an apprenticeship as a toolmaker. I went back to school at the Rouge Tool and Die Plants Ford Training Department. I completed the apprentice training in about 4 years. I continued training and ended up as a Tool and Die maker. After a year or two, the economy took a downturn and I got laid off. I was still single and decided to enlist in the Army. I had registered and had been exempt because of my apprenticeship, so I felt it was a good time to enlist in the Army.
I was sent to Korea shortly after the fighting stopped. I was stationed north of the 38th parallel, but it was still South Korea. We were stationed near a village called Tuduchaunee. I was selected by Cadre as one of the trainees to go to the honor guard, but denied because I was not an American citizen at that time. I waited till I came out of the army to make that proud step.
After being in the army I got my job back at FORD. I worked in design, drafting, metal processing and estimating, was then appointed to Alfa group. This was a Ford organization to study ways to improve the way we were doing business. The organization included all the Departments of Ford Motor Company. I was elected to go to Germany and Japan to make the presentations.
I met my wife Betty through the Detroit News hikers organization. She was a good dancer and danced with all of the guys. I thought, wow! What a beauty. I don’t have a chance with her. However, it turned out that she was interested in the “handsome young Scot.” The high point of our lives when Betty delivered a beautiful baby boy and we named him after my dad – James Barclay.
Jim graduated from Stevenson high school and attended Wayne State, where he graduated from. He also went to Schoolcraft College. He got a real job at Ford Motor Company on the assembly line where he learned what real work was.
Jim married Kim and we finally have a daughter we love dearly. And we have a granddaughter Mackenzie, who is the pride of our life.
Before Mackenzie, we had four “adopted” kids of one of our neighbors, Chris and Kathy Boudreau. They are Sarah, Michelle, Renee and John. They are all grown now, but they still call us “Gran Betty and Pa John.”
I cannot finish this without something about the Livonia Youth Soccer Club. We enrolled him in the YMCA soccer program. I was assigned to take charge of a team which we called “The Thistle”. John Cluet of the YMCA and Larry Kristoff of Stevenson High school were the pioneers of soccer in Livonia. The Thistle played the first game and lost. I don’t remember the score. My boys worked and trained hard. Mr. Cluet had predicted to me that he thought we would finish 3rd or 4th. We proved him wrong and won the league on the last day of the season on a very cold day. I still have a flag in the basement that I made myself.
The YMCA thought we were too good and wanted to break up the team. I said not fair. We left the YMCA and organized our own league with Plymouth, Garden City, Redford and any other city that wanted in. It was big and successful and eventually became known as the Livonia Soccer Club. Ruth Dober and Frank Guerin were the last two presidents I remember. Thank God for them. It was too much for me.
The soccer program was a huge undertaking and had a lot of help. Betty helped with the registration of players. Conrad Gniewek was my advisor, treasurer and most of all, great friend. John Moore was a coach who also installed goal posts. I believe they are still in place. We had many coaches who did a great job with the kids. John Crawford was a great referee and a close friend. John’s wife, Cathy Crawford started the girls program which we hadn’t started. Sorry Cathy, you were right, men would not think about girls playing soccer. My thanks to all who helped in this effort. It was great!
I was for a time chief of the Scottish Clan, specifically Clan Drummond.
My Uncle Bob was a mason and I joined the Olive Branch and became the Worshipful Master in 1977. One memorable event was Robert Burns night. Charlie Balnius recited a Burns poem and ‘addressed it to the hags.’ Did a very good job of it, everyone had a good time.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18