McClary, Herschel Vance
Herschel "Mac" Vance McClary, FTGC, U.S.N. (Ret.) 78, of Apache Junction, AZ passed away peacefully in his sleep with his son at his side on September 15, 2009. He was born January 28, 1931 in Twin Branch, WV, to Chester and Naomi McClary. He joined the Navy at the age of 17, making submarine work his career and traveling all over the world. After 26 years he retired having served his country with honors. He moved to California where he met and married the love of his life, Joan Erspamer. With their combined family, they moved to Bothell, Washington. What started as a summer vacation home in Shelton, Washington eventually became their longterm home. Mac and Joan were very active members of the Timberlake community in Shelton and made many lifelong friends. They were "snow birds" traveling to a winter place in Apache Junction. Eventually they decided to move to Golden Vista, a senior retirement community in this city southeast of Phoenix, AZ. Mac started each day drinking two raw eggs, all the way to the end. He was described frequently as "the most honest man you could know". He was a consummate gentleman who taught his family the importance of hard work and that a woman should be treated with respect. He worshipped his wife Joan. Together, they loved to entertain, hosting many parties and card games. He lived for baseball, bowling and gardening. He was always in motion, literally never sitting still. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ormand "Bud", sisters Agnes, Lovella, Nellie, Narci and daughter Susan. He is survived by his wife Joan of Apache Junction, AZ, his brother Danny and sister Evelyn of Lerona, WV, sister Naomi of Bastion, VA, daughters Karen (Bill) Jones of Billings, MT, Linda Burgess of Seattle, WA, Gail (Mike) Stangler of Shelton, WA, Diane (Mike) Murname of Van Wert, OH, son Joey (Debbie) McClary of Phoenix, AZ and Joan's children, daughter Alexandra (Peter) Sagues of Geyeserville, CA, sons Greg (Sonia) Armstrong of Soquel, CA and Scott (Cil) Erspamer of Dublin, CA. Grandchildren Brian Smith of Rancho Bernardo, CA, Daniel & Steven Ackley of Redmond, WA, Robbie Farnham of Webster, TX, Steven Farnham of League City, TX, Alana & Brandon Erspamer of Dublin, CA, Ella & Becca McClary of Phoenix, AZ, 4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at Shadow Mountain Mortuary in Phoenix, AZ, on January 28, 2010 and burial with full military honors will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, A reception will be held following the ceremony for all family and friends with the location and time being announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Joan McClary asks that donations be made in Herschel's name to the Bremerton, Washington branch of the United States Submarine Veterans, P.O. Box 465, Silverdale, WA 98383. Published in The Arizona Republic on September 27, 2009