Lawrence Elzie "Mac" McClellan

Lawrence Elzie “Mac” McClellan was born on August 4, 1918 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to James Henry McClellan and Ellise Emma Bell (Daniels) McClellan.

Shortly after Lawrence’s birth in 1919, his father removed the family from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Sikeston, Missouri where he spent much of his young life.  He ultimately met and fell in love with Dorothea Lorene Morse, the daughter of John Elzy Sherfield Morse and Flora Ellen (Hodges) Morse.  The couple married in Charleston, Missouri on March 30, 1942.

Lawrence worked at the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Sikeston, Missouri for 18 years until he moved his family to Houston, Texas in 1965 where he worked at Royal Crown Bottling Co. until the company was sold and then worked for the 7-Up bottling Co. of Houston, Texas for 20 years until he retired in 1987.  Lawrence spent much of his retirement on 1545 Scharpe St., in Houston, Texas doing carpentry work from his garage crafting tables, end tables and lamps for family members.  He also raised pigeons and an occasional turkey at his property where he built a walk-in pigeon coop in the back yard. Lawrence had a true love for baseball and country western music stemming from childhood.  He was an exceptional guitar player and baseball player in his youth, unfortunately a hip fracture as a young adult prevented him from progressing into the sport professionally.  Sadly, this hip fracture also prevented him from entering the United States Military which devastated him as all of his 6 brothers were service men.       

The union between Lawrence and Dorothea lasted 47 years until his death from a stroke.  He passed away in his home on April 21, 1989.  This union produced 5 children, 4 of which lived into adulthood.  He is buried next to his wife at Forest Park (Lawndale) Cemetery.  He was preceded in death by both parents, 1 son, 1 grandson, 5 brothers and 1 sister.  His wife, 4 children, 14 grand children, and 6 great grand children survived him.  Dorothea passed away on March 20, 1993.  Lawrence, aka "Mac" to his friends and “Paw Paw” to his family is deeply missed by his surviving children and grand children. 

Children of Lawrence and Dorothea:
Glenda Joyce McClellan (Glaus) 1942-2010

Barbara Jean McClellan (Burton) 1944-
Carolyn Joan McClellan (West, Maharaj) 1947-
Lawrence "Larry" E. McClellan 1958-1974
Terry Stephen McClellan 1963-

Lawrence McClellan
Newspaper Article 

Lawrence McClellan is
4th standing on back row

Lawrence McClellan

Dorothea (Morse) McClellan

                                                                                                                 
Source: Biography written by Debbie West

Information and pictures provided by Carolyn McClellan, his daughter

Personal knowledge