Alice E. McClay

The four of us all had Alice McClay for fifth or sixth grade at Parkwood between 1950 and 1956. Our mother, Irene, became a good friend, and continued correspondence except for this year. Marian Thompson was kind enough to forward the news.
Miss McClay was a great teacher. All of us respected her greatly. She was firm, but very fair. She walked to Parkwood from her apartment near Central High.
We all were very fortunate to have had her influence in our formative years.
Our...

Iwas one of Miss Alice's boys
in about 1959 and she was my favorite,I was even more thrilled
20 years later when my son had her.
She was a great lady and teacher
Rick and Rich Schau-kalamazoo

Tall, thin, and attractive, with a bouyant smile and gentle demeanor, Miss McClay kept all the '55 Parkwood sixth-grade boys in line (and in their seats). A difficult thing to accomplish with Tom, Grant and I in class ... pre-pubescent boys passing notes and looks to Billie Jane, Lucy and all the other cute girls. I was the lucky one in my family of three siblings to get Ms. McClay instead of "the other" sixth grade teacher. Also of note, for my Parkwoodian classmates, my mother recently...

Alice McClay's influence continued in my life long after being a student in her 6th grade class at Parkwood School in Kalamazoo. She challenged and inspired my desire to learn and taught learning skills useful throughout my education - the memory of her inner and outer beauty, gentle but firm teaching style and subtle wit remain with me to this day. I always wanted to be like her.

Alice McClay was my 2nd grade teacher at Lake Shore Schools, St. Clair Michigan in 1943. She was my favorite teacher and my brother as well. I was Jackie Bell then and my brother's name is Jim. She was always so gentle and caring and made learning so much fun. She was the first person to make me feel important and really worth something. Throughout the years I have always remembered her kindness. I was saddened to learn of her death and truly dismayed to learn that I lived right across...

I ALSO WAS A STUDENT OF MISS MCCLAY---PARKWOOD--MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT 1954. WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON. SHE BECAME FRIENDS WITH MY PARENTS AND THEY WOULD OFTEN VISIT WHILE SHE LIVED IN KALAMAZOO. JUST IN CASE ANYONE FORGETS--MISS MCCLAY WAS A GREAT WALKER BEFORE IT BECAME POPULAT FOR FITNESS. WHAT CHARM AND GREAT INTELLIGENCE. BEST WISHES TO HER FAMILY. WALT GOODRICH

Even after 40 some years since sixth grade at Parkwood/Upjohn I still remember and appreciate the teaching of one of my favorite teachers Miss McClay. With a daughter now in sixth grade I often thought of her and was sadden to learn of her dead.
One memory that sticks with me to this day is my research paper on Inca Indians. She encouraged me not to just write facts but to write about their daily life. In her gentle way she taught me to look beyond just the facts and look at the real...

I remember my mom & dad being so happy that I "got" Miss McClay for 2nd grade! My brothers had her for a teacher before me & she attended St. Luke's with us, too. My class @ Parkwood-Upjohn was split that year 2nd/3rd and I remember doing a 'Princess & the Pea' play that year. I have fond memories of a kind & intelligent teacher, and dear friend of our family.

I was just thinking about Miss McClay yesterday and was surprised to read of her passing in the Kalamazoo Gazette last night. I was her 6th grade student at Parkwood 50 years ago. She had a profound influence on me. She was very wise and a wonderful encourager. When she noticed out loud to the whole class how often I would go to the dictionary to check out new words, I found myself investigating the English language more and more. I graduated from Western with a major in English and...