Remembering Lynn McClain (1947 - 1993)Lynn Shepard was born February 1, 1947 to Willis & Eva (Koch) Shepard in Chicago, Illinois. Her family moved to Granite City, IL where her younger brother Jim was born December 7, 1951. Lynn attended High School in Granite City, Illinois graduating in 1965 and earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) from Louisiana State University in 1970. On April 1, 1972 Lynn married David McClain whom she knew from High School and began a career as a teacher in Granite City, Illinois. Her son Nathan was born the following year on August 6, 1973 and would be her only child. She had a love for life and a talent for art which passed onto her son Nate. Lynn taught early childhood development at Harold Brown Recreation Center for 10 years, pursued a passion for fitness as an aerobics instructor, and taught at Prather Elementary School in her final years. She was a member of Nameoki United Methodist Church and designed the church logo featuring a cross with outstretched hands. In 1993, Lynn was diagnosed with cancer which she battled for four-months before passing away on November 29, 1993. She was survived at the time by her husband David McClain, her son Nate McClain, her parents Willis & Eva Shepard, her brother Jim & Andrea Shepard and her nephews Jim Jr, Corey, & Blake Shepard.
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8 Comments
Lynn McClain Urffer
9/10/2016 03:29:17 pm
It's wonderful that this woman left such a legacy behind. I did not know her, but feel a connection due to our similar names. Sometimes our purpose for being here is revealed even more after death. She must have had very special friends in life to keep her memory so alive.
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Vicki N
9/10/2016 03:30:00 pm
She was the best friend that I have ever had. I also had a lot of time to spend with Lynn because of David's fishing and hunting time. We never had time together that we did not have fun or that we failed to laugh. To this day I still miss her "gruff" laughter or just the simple phrase "hey, what's goin on?" Yes, we all were very fortunate to have her in all of our lives. There was only one Lynn. Thankful for everyday that she was with us.
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Nichole W
9/10/2016 03:30:26 pm
After commenting about Nathan I had to respond when I saw this. Here is what I remember about Lynn McClain: As I said in my comments regarding Nathan, I had a lot of emotional problems when I was growing up and I didn't really have a lot of friends, plus I was just a weird child. ha ha Anyway, I remember when Lynn would come to the school and I would always run up to her for attention. She always took time out to make me feel special and she was always so sweet. I never really hung around with Nathan so it wasn't like I was one of her child's friends, but anytime she came to the school I knew right away who Lynn McClain was because whenever I would talk to her I would always walk away with a good feeling.
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Ginger M
9/10/2016 03:30:49 pm
My dad Austin and Davids' dad John were brothers. I was about ten when Lynn and David married. How lucky were we to have Lynn in our family!!. David went fishing with the men and we got Lynn! She was the most thoughtful person I have ever met. Since Nathan wasn't much of a fisherman either, we were able to enjoy time with him as well. I could write a book about Lynn and Nathan. Lynn was able to fill her life with a lot of success, but still had dreams that she wasn't able to achieve. She wanted to learn how to play the piano and loved to listen to my daughters play. My dad and Lynn sufferred through cancer together, we lost Lynn in Novemeber and my dad in the following August, then Nathan. Now when I look at the beautiful sunsets, I know Lynn and Nathan have painted another great sky that my dad can enjoy while he fishes.
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Barbara V
9/10/2016 03:31:11 pm
Lynn, my husband, Jake, and I were all friends for years. Jake and Lynn made stain glass lamps together when they taught at Prather. She was always willing to share her artistic talents. Lynn was one of the first people to contact me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a great support. I never cried about having cancer until the day they announced that Lynn died. We were in a morning meeting and I sobbed. I attended her funeral and placed a pink rose in the mausoleum for her because we became sisters the day I was diagnosed.
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Brenda M
9/10/2016 03:31:45 pm
Lynn was my sister-in-law. She was so much fun. Her talent was outstanding. There isn't much she couldn't do. If you needed any help she would be there for you if anyway possible. I know that Nathan never did get over the loss of his Mother. She will be forever missed. John, Brenda, John David and Jay
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Elizabeth M
9/10/2016 03:32:25 pm
I remember looking through my yearbook from 1993 and seeing that picture from the prather elementry year book. I wasn't yet in school but i do remember my brothers and sister telling me about her. she was a very nice lady from what i have heard. i am sorry about her death and i wish you luck.
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Kris B
9/10/2016 03:32:52 pm
Lynn was like a 2nd Mother to me especially since I was over at their house all the time. She was always friendly, caring, and very energetic. Being an artist herself, she always encouraged and supported Nathan's talent. There were many times she took Nate & I to the mall in her white Thunderbird while blasting some tunes...mostly from her latest aerobics class she was teaching. In typical "Mom" fashion, she was always on Nate's case about lack of detail focus like having a clean room and such. Thanksgiving weekend in 1993 was the last I saw Lynn. I was attending the University of Arkansas when the cancer came upon her so violently. Nate took me to see her at the hospital right before I had to return to college. I remember how helpless she looked lying there and I told her that I would bring her some "butterfly" pastries on New Years Day (she loved those flaky pastries in the shape of butterflies with powdered sugar on them that my Aunt Stella made every New Years). A day or so after getting back to college is when I heard the news that she died. I was in total shock. To make matters worse, one of my classes was giving an early Final the same day as the funeral and I didn't have a car on campus. My plan was to skip the Final and take a bus, taxi, walk, hitchhike, or do anything to be there. I spoke with Nate and shared my sympathies with him. Told him about my logistical challenges of getting there and he said to stay in school that he understood. Through my tears, I told him it didn't matter I HAD to be there to give my support to him and his Dad. Even in his own grief he gently said "Kris, I know your heart is in the right place. I'll be alright. She wouldn't want you to throw away your education. Please stay and take your Final. I will see you in a couple weeks at Christmas." Ultimately, I stayed and took the Final. Don't remember the class or the grade I got. Even though it was the right advice at the time, I still have a bit of regret at not being there to say goodbye. Lynn you will always be loved and remembered by all of us
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