John Thomas McLain

John Thomas "Tommy" McLain, 75 of Cleveland passed away to eternal life on Sept. 19th, 2024 at the Tennessee State Veterans Home of Cleveland. He was born May 29th, 1949. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 52 years, Anita Rose Harden McLain, grandson Jacob Thomas McLain, parents Billy and Barbara Ann Roberson McLain, sister Peggy Ann (John) Neyman, in laws Wallace and Alice Harden, brother in laws Bobby Rice, Lake Harden.

He is survived by his son, Jason (Michelle) McLain, grandson Hunter (Ashley) McLain, great grandsons John Thomas McLain and Isaac McLain, great granddaughter Madeline Rose McLain, niece Gretchen Ruvo, great nephew Sonny Ruvo, sister in laws Janice (Garry) Murray, Jane Carter, Sharon Harden, Faye and special cousin Ann (Bill) Gray.

Tommy graduated from Bradley Central High School in May of 1967 and joined the U.S. Army on his 18th birthday on May 29th, 1967. He entered basic training at Ft. Benning, GA in Aug of 1967. He was then sent to Ft. Leonord wood, MO to train as a heavy equipment operator before being sent to serve our country in Vietnam from Dec 1967 to December 1968 with Co. A of the 589th Engineer Battalion afterwards being reassigned to Ft Bragg, NC and honorably discharged July 30th, 1970. He then married the love of his wife Anita two months later. Tommy started his career with the Cleveland Police Department as a motorcycle officer on March 1st, 1971. He was promoted to Sgt. And organized CPD's first traffic investigation unit. He was the first officer to volunteer for the new SWAT team and eventually became the team leader. He worked all shifts as shift commander and lieutenant, afterwards being promoted to Captain of Operations and transferred to Support Services Commander. After retiring he was the longest serving officer on record at the CPD having served 40 years and 3 months.

Tommy was an amateur historian and genealogist. He greatly enjoyed being a Civil War and French and Indian war reenactor. He was a past member and president of the Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Past member of the Sons of Union Veterans at large, past member of the Military order of the Stars and Bars, charter member and past president of the Col. Benjamin Cleveland Chapter of the Sons of The American Revolution, member of the Fraternal Order of Police since 1971, member of the local retired officers association, member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, member and served several years as the chaplain for the 589th Engineer Battalion Association Vietnam. Tommy was a lifetime member of Prospect Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he served many times on the board of elders. Tommy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and a devoted Christian.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Prospect United CPC Church located at 310 New Murraytown Road NW in Cleveland TN. A Service celebrating his life will follow the visitation time at 7:00 PM with the Rev Hunter McLain, the Rev Dr Phil Sumrall and the Rev Dr Gary Sears officiating,

The interment and committal service will take place on Wednesday morning, September 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM in the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens with military honors. Pallbearers will be Hunter McLain, Mark McLain, Jamie Bankston, Sonny Ruvo, Dale Murray, Coleman Strain, Tommy Rollins. The funeral procession will leave Prospect United CPC at 10:40 AM on Wednesday morning.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Tommy and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.