Ben McClary

Dr. Ben Harris McClary, 81, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at his home in East Ridge surrounded by his many collections and loving family.Ben was born in a log cabin on the Ocoee River in Polk County on July 8, 1931 to Roy and Arlene McClary. Ben loved being a McClary from Polk County, Tenn. ---a descendant of Robert W. McClary, John Shamblin (the countys first sheriff), the great-great-great-grandson of Revolutionary War veteran Andrew McClary and pioneer Baptist preacher Duke Kimbrough. After graduating from Polk County High School in 1949, Ben spent his life teaching and learning. After he received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Tennessee, he taught English at Bradley Central High School (1957-1960) and then joined the faculty of Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1961. As a Fulbright Scholar, he received his Doctorate in 1966 from the University of Sussex in Hove Sussex, England. After this, Dr. McClary joined the faculty of Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., (1967) as well as began teaching night classes at Middle Georgia College. In 1971, he became the Head of the Humanities Division at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Ga., and 10 years later was honored to receive UTs Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Alumnus Award. After retiring in 1991, he continued to teach as a visiting professor at Wesleyan College and Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. Despite Bens numerous scholarly accolades and grand international adventures, he considered his crown achievement being called Daddy by his children and Papaw by his grandchildren and all of their friends.His parents, Roy and Arlene McClary, the mother of his children, Sandra Long Wooley and his son, Marcus Harris McClary, preceded Ben in death.Ben is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Beth McClary and Chip Cooley; his brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Faye McClary, of Benton, Tenn.; his fantastic grandchildren, Mary, Benjamin and Kristopher Hunsucker; his magnificent daughter-in-law, Amy Prendergast McClary, and his dynamic niece and nephews, Daniel and David McClary and Danielle Nicole Long Hahne and other relatives.A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Nativity, 1201 Cross St., Fort Oglethorpe, at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013. The Rev. Betty Latham will officiate. The family will greet friends and relatives at their home following the service.In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Chattanooga Theatre Centre Annual Fund, either via mail or online donation. (CTC, PO Box 4023, Chattanooga, TN 37405 or https://tickets.theatrecentre.com/public/donation.asp). Please note on that your donation is in memory of Dr. Ben Harris McClary.Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com.Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, TN 37412.