Harber "Mac" A. McClearen

AIKEN - H. A. “Mac” McClearen, 92, died at Trinity on Laurens on August 1, 2013. Mr. McClearen was born in Sango, Montgomery County, Tennessee and was the son of the late Lloyd and Annie McClearen of Farmers Exchange, Tennessee. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and was a graduate of the University of Tennessee in 1942 with a B.S. Degree in Education. During WWII, he served in the United States Army Signal Corps in England and France from 1943 – 1946. Following his service, he began his professional career as a certified Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Specialist) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. While there, he worked for Monsanto Chemical and Union Carbide companies and retired from E. I. Dupont at the Savannah River Plant in 1984. His loving wife, Margery Hovey McClearen, who preceded him in death, was a Jacksonville, Florida native and had worked for Admiral Rickover, Father of the U.S. Nuclear Navy. Mac was active in the Republican Party and worked at the City, County, State, and National levels. He was a driving force in the establishment of the Republican Party in the State of South Carolina. He was always proud of the facts that he personally met four Republican U.S. Presidents and was chosen as an Aiken County delegate to the 1968 Republican Convention in Miami. Active in St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, he served as Warden and Vestryman on a number of occasions. In 1994, Mac co-authored a book, St. Thaddeus of Aiken, a Church and Its City, with S. Owen Sheetz. Mac and Owen also joined forces to kick off efforts in the planning and construction of the now-completed Aiken Railroad Depot. In 1997, Mac was recognized as the “Man of the Year” by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, and in 1999, he was awarded the “Order of the Palmetto” by Governor David M. Beasley. Survivors include his loving children: Dr. James R. and Laurie McClearen, Robert F. and Janet McClearen, and Anne A. McClearen; a brother, A. Graham McClearen; and two sisters, Nelle M. King and Suzanne M. Hamilton. In addition, he is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Mac is remembered by his loved ones as generous, kind, and fiercely loyal. To him, family was everything. He always saw the best in people, was always willing to help, and encouraged all of us to be our best selves. We celebrate his life in his words: “To the moment” and “Life is Good.” When asked how he was doing he always replied, “Just Right.” The funeral will be Sunday at 2 PM at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church with the Rev. Grant Wiseman officiating. Following interment in the church cemetery, a reception will be held in St. Thaddeus’ Stevenson – McClelland Building. Pallbearers will be James McClearen, Jr., John McClearen, Robert McClearen, Jr., Daniel Taylor, Stuart Taylor, Dana Zefting and Rich Long. Honorary pallbearers are R. S. “Skipper” Perry, “Pep” Pepper, S. Owen Sheetz, Leroy Deaton, W. P. “Pat” Walke, and Dr. Bob Lofgren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Thaddeus Church Cemetery Fund, 125 Pendleton St. SW, Aiken, SC 29801 The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6-8 PM at SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC Please visit his online guest registry at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harber "Mac" A. McClearen, please visit our flower store.