Susan Marie McClain

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Susan Marie McClain on March 11, 2025, at the age 82, in New Orleans, LA. She was born to Doyle C. and Ruth Strickland in Honolulu, HI on June 19, 1942. During her adventure-filled life, she visited nearly every state in the U.S., visited over a dozen foreign countries, and resided in several of them -- Germany, French Morrocco, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Mexico. She was a graduate of LSU with a Bachelor of Arts in English and studied for a Master of Education at UC San Diego. She held both Teaching and Librarian certifications in Louisiana and California. She served as a high school librarian in Calexico, CA, Torrance, CA, and Hong Kong and represented schools at various educational conferences in the U.S. and abroad. While at Torrance High School, she also served as a member of the Young Adult Reviewers group that did reviews of not-yet-published books intended for young readers. She also spent a year as a library assistant at the Smithsonian Library system in Washington, D.C. Everyone who knew Susan was awed by her limitless command of literature. As a voracious reader and uniquely qualified professional librarian who wished to share with others her understanding and love of books, she often gave book talks and prepared bibliographies on a wide variety of subjects. She was able to quote verbatim passages from the hundreds of books she had read. Her favorite subjects included science fiction, historical fiction, religion, and social anthropology.

Susan embraced a uniquely diverse professional life. She taught English and History at elementary schools and high schools. She was particularly beloved by students and staff alike at Torrance High School where she served as Head Librarian. She joined her husband during several overseas assignments with the U.S. Government and eventually, enthusiastically became an officer of the USG herself. She served several overseas assignments including working at the U.S. Consulate in Manila, Philippines, Guangzhou, China, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. She was entrusted with many special duties and projects that were well “above her pay grade” in every USG position she held. Her full-time positions included being an Immigration Inspector or Special Operations Officer at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, a SAVE Program Specialist in Washington, D.C., an Immigration Officer in Bangkok, Thailand, and an Immigration Examiner in New Orleans, LA. The highest grade she attained with the USG was GS-13. She closed out her 15+ years of government when she retired in New Orleans, LA in June of 2005. Susan brought energy and curiosity to every job and project she had.

While at the Smithsonian, she helped to catalog the wide variety of artifacts received by the institution. Her work experiences later helped her perform genealogy research, which included discovering relatives who participated in historical events such as the 1415 Battle of Agincourt and the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg. Long before that, she had researched and prepared a draft history of Imperial Valley, CA, while working as a high school librarian at Calexico, CA.

Together with her husband, Susan lovingly cared for both her late mother, Ruth and her late mother-in-law, Lois. Susan and family traveled extensively on personal or official trips within Asia, Mexico, and Europe. This included taking Susan’s mother to live with them in Bangkok, and on trips to Australia and Singapore. They also took their son Warren on tours of Mexico and China. Susan’s own life journey inspired her son to explore both the physical world and the literary universe.

Some adventures came unwelcomed, such as Hurricane Katrina, yet she was ever resilient. Through achievements and challenges, she loved to visit family members. She affectionately watched her nieces, nephews, and their children grow up and begin adventures of their own. She was charitable with everyone, family or not, and the care and love she felt for all showed.

Susan Marie McClain is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, James J. McClain, Jr., son, Warren McClain Lee, grandchildren, McClain Lee and Lee Chase, sister, Kay Paschos (Gus), sister-in-law, Geraldine Paternostro, and many wonderful nieces and nephews including Jennifer Paschos Catalanotto, Maria Paschos, Debbie Schneider, Tina Wertz, Stacey Miller, Toni Anne Rosas, Denise Spinos, Troy Spinos, and Morris Phillips.

A celebration of Susan’s life will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Metairie, LA. Visitation will be held from 9 AM – 11 AM with a memorial service to begin at 11 AM.