Mary Helen McLean was the first daughter born to G.C. & Loretta McLean, who were natives of Texas, & Tennessee, respectively. While she was officially named for her mother's older sister, she was called "Mollie" by her family, in honor of her Grandma McLean. At age 4, she moved from Mississippi, where she was born, to Tennessee, where she'd live the rest of her days. In addition to older half-sister, Florence, she had 4 more sisters, & 5 brothers: Bill, Walter, Della, Ivery, Jr., Marvin, Shirley, & Claudy Fay, who died in early childhood of a congenital defect. Her father worked on the TN Central R.R., as did her uncle, & brothers. In time, she met their co-laborer, redheaded, freckle-faced Wm. Reed Chapman, & fell head-over-heels in love, being a "natural-born romantic", just like her own mother, "Et". At the ripe old age of 25, she wed Reed in a home wedding, under the careful ministrations of her mother, wearing a pretty blue dress, which was a commonplace bridal outfit of the time, on August 5, 1935, at Dorton, Tennessee. While the McLeans were Presbyterians, & the Chapman clan Methodists, they split the difference, engaging the local Congregationalist pastor, Rev. Nightingale, as their officiant. Over the next 6 years, Mollie bore Reed 2 daughters, & a son: Loretta Jean (1937-2001), Wm. Reed, Jr. "Billy" (1939-2005), & Patricia "Patsy" (1941- ). They moved around, as the R.R. dictated, while Reed rose through the ranks to become a section foreman, the same position her father held. Finally, in the late 60's, after Reed retired, they bought a little house in South Nashville, where they enjoyed entertaining friends & family alike, especially grandchildren, & great-grandchildren. Mollie was active in the Baptist church, serving as both VBS & Training Union directors, as well as writing Christmas plays & other special programs. She loved "old-timey mountain music", popular tunes (she did the Charleston at her 80th birthday party, where 2 elderly men fought over her, much to her delight!), classic radio shows, poetry, & romance novels. Mollie was a wonderful cook, & was talented at all manner of needlework, including sewing, embroidry, crocheting, quilting, & even upholstery. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, & great-great-grandmother, & her family's temporary loss is heaven's gain.
Mary Helen McLean was the first daughter born to G.C. & Loretta McLean, who were natives of Texas, & Tennessee, respectively. While she was officially named for her mother's older sister, she was called "Mollie" by her family, in honor of her Grandma McLean. At age 4, she moved from Mississippi, where she was born, to Tennessee, where she'd live the rest of her days. In addition to older half-sister, Florence, she had 4 more sisters, & 5 brothers: Bill, Walter, Della, Ivery, Jr., Marvin, Shirley, & Claudy Fay, who died in early childhood of a congenital defect. Her father worked on the TN Central R.R., as did her uncle, & brothers. In time, she met their co-laborer, redheaded, freckle-faced Wm. Reed Chapman, & fell head-over-heels in love, being a "natural-born romantic", just like her own mother, "Et". At the ripe old age of 25, she wed Reed in a home wedding, under the careful ministrations of her mother, wearing a pretty blue dress, which was a commonplace bridal outfit of the time, on August 5, 1935, at Dorton, Tennessee. While the McLeans were Presbyterians, & the Chapman clan Methodists, they split the difference, engaging the local Congregationalist pastor, Rev. Nightingale, as their officiant. Over the next 6 years, Mollie bore Reed 2 daughters, & a son: Loretta Jean (1937-2001), Wm. Reed, Jr. "Billy" (1939-2005), & Patricia "Patsy" (1941- ). They moved around, as the R.R. dictated, while Reed rose through the ranks to become a section foreman, the same position her father held. Finally, in the late 60's, after Reed retired, they bought a little house in South Nashville, where they enjoyed entertaining friends & family alike, especially grandchildren, & great-grandchildren. Mollie was active in the Baptist church, serving as both VBS & Training Union directors, as well as writing Christmas plays & other special programs. She loved "old-timey mountain music", popular tunes (she did the Charleston at her 80th birthday party, where 2 elderly men fought over her, much to her delight!), classic radio shows, poetry, & romance novels. Mollie was a wonderful cook, & was talented at all manner of needlework, including sewing, embroidry, crocheting, quilting, & even upholstery. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, & great-great-grandmother, & her family's temporary loss is heaven's gain.
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