Louis Edward Mcclain

Louis Edward McClain was born October 15, 1923 in Coalgate, OK to Thomas Jefferson McClain and Ida Mae Dodd McClain. One year later, his father, mother, and three older siblings moved to Tahlequah, OK, where Ed grew to be a young man. In 1942 at 18 years of age, he joined the army and served in the Pacific Theatre until 1945. Throughout his military service, he was assigned to drive ammunition and supply trucks to the front lines, which eventually led to his long career of driving transport trucks. On October 19, 1946, he married Helen Marie Nelson of Wewoka, OK. They had previously met on a bus while Ed was on leave from the army, and had decided to exchange addresses in order to 'keep in touch' during the war. That friendship blossomed into romance after the war and they decided to marry. They made their home in Wewoka for the next few years while Ed worked in the Wewoka oil fields. At one point, there was no work for Ed, so they moved to Houston, Texas to find work in the oil fields. However, after one year, they were so homesick for Oklahoma, they packed up their car and headed home to Wewoka. Soon after, Ed found work driving a dairy truck for Roselawn Dairy delivering to stores in the surrounding area. In 1952, Ed accepted a job with Gaines Propane in Okmulgee, so Ed and Helen relocated. Two years later, he was asked to drive for Hugh Breeding Company hauling gasoline and many different kinds of fuels. In August 1960, after 14 years of marriage, Helen gave birth to Lindalee Anita, their first and only child. A few years later, Ed accepted a job with Continental Oil Company and began many years of working 10 to 12 hour shifts, 6 days a week. While with Conoco, he was given a 'Million Mile Safe Driving Award' for the great accomplishment of driving a million miles without an accident. By the time he retired, it was estimated that he had driven almost 2 million miles during his years with Conoco. The next day after retirement, Ed accepted a job at Jenks Public Schools driving a school bus. 'Mr. Ed', as the students liked to call him, was loved and the feeling was mutual. In May of 1999, Ashley Marie, his only grandchild was born. Papa and Ashley loved spending time together, and she was definitely the apple of his eye. On May 27, 2012, Ed succumbed to lung cancer and died at Clarehouse in Tulsa. Ed is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen; his daughter, Anita; his granddaughter, Ashley; his sister, Alta Siegenthaler and many nieces and nephews. Throughout his life, Ed loved camping, fishing, playing dominoes or checkers, and sharing a cup of coffee with friends. He especially loved visiting with friends and family and bringing laughter to every party. Although, he will be missed here on earth, he has surely already been cracking everyone up in heaven singing 'There's a chicken in the tree and I know there's one for me!...' We will miss you, Ed, Eddie, Daddy, and Papa.