Dr. John Martin McClearen Sr.

McCLEAREN, SR. Dr. John MartinBorn November 3rd, 1931; passed at Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN on December 6th, 2008. His parents were Lloyd Edward and Annie Russell McClearen. He is survived by his wife, Lelah Baggett McClearen, having been married 56 years. Their two sons are John Martin McClearen, Jr. and his daughter Trinity, age 8 and Victor Brent and Lori Ann McClearen, and their children Matthew, age 18, Breanna, age 16, Spencer, age 12. John was the seventh child in a family of eleven brothers and sisters. Deceased are James, Edward, Elizabeth, Annie Russell and Jean. Surviving are Harber of Akin, SC, Graham of Albertville, AL, Nelle King of Farmers Exchange, TN, Lloydette Pederson of Greenville, TX and Suzanne Hamilton of Marysville, CA; nieces, Trudi Murch, Elizabeth Seamans, Deborah Sugarman, Victoria Tolmach, Maria Taylor, Susan Frazier, Anne McClearen; nephews, Joe Edward, James, Bob, Kenny and Mark McClearen, John Nadas, James Houk, Andrew Tolmach and John King. John served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a 1st Lieutenant during the Korean War, during which time he decided to become a minister. He received his BS at Austin Peay, a Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt, an MA of Adult Education at the University of Tennessee and his PhD. Doctor of Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary. He worked as Minister of Christian Education and Program at Centenary United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, TN, Belmont U.M.C. in Nashville, TN, at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, TN and then at Calvary U.M.C. in Nashville, TN, for the 16 years preceding retirement. Prior to his work at Calvary, he served on the Holston Conference Staff in Johnson City, TN. A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church on Thursday, December 11th, at 3 p.m., officiated by Dr. Vin Walkup and Dr. Peter van Eys. Visitation for family and friends will follow. John's body will be cremated, with a portion of his cremains being placed in Calvary's Columbarium, with the rest of his cremains being placed in Bethel Cemetery at Farmers Exchange in Hickman County, TN at a later date. In lieu of flowers, John's wish is for donations to be made to the Calvary Habitat for Humanity Unity Build, and the Ministers' Discretionary Fund at Calvary United Methodist Church in John's memory. You may send gifts designated as you wish for them to be used to Calvary United Methodist Church, 3701 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, TN 37215. Arrangements by BURNS-SHORT DIRECTORS, (615) 770-0023. www.burns-short.com