David Hansel "D.H." McCain Jr.

David Hansel “D.H.” McCain Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Born on August 4, 1937, in Hannibal, Missouri, David moved with his family to the Pleasant View community in Arkansas during his early childhood. He graduated from Pleasant View High School in 1955 and proudly served in the United States Air Force for four years. Following his military service, David relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, where he began a distinguished career in aerospace engineering. He worked for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center as an engineer and Test Conductor for General Electric SDF Operations. His contributions to the Mercury Space Program and the Apollo 13 mission were significant, and he was honored with a special invitation to the Apollo 17 launch in recognition of his Manned Flight Awareness contributions. David's career with General Electric took him across the country—from Huntsville to Wilmington, Delaware, then Burlington, Iowa, and finally back to Arkansas in 1976. In Fort Smith, he continued his work as a Quality Control Engineer for General Electric, Trane, and American Standard, dedicating over 30 years to the field. After retiring, David and his wife, Teresa, built their home near his family's original homestead in Pleasant View. Their home included a workshop where you could often find David creating one of a kind wooden works of art. He treasured time spent with his siblings, children, grandchildren, extended family, and lifelong friends. Known affectionately as “Smiley,” David was admired for his unwavering devotion to his loved ones, strong work ethic, and his joyful appreciation for life. David was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and David “Hansel” McCain Sr. (Pleasant View), and his brothers, Larry and Gordon McCain (Pleasant View). He is survived by his beloved wife, Teresa; his sister, Kay Love of Farmington, AR, his sister-in-law, Malynda McCain, his children: David McCain (Jill) of Chattanooga, TN and Deanna Hildebrand (Jeff) of Little Rock, AR; stepchildren: Beth Blansit of Valley Head, AL and Joey Solomon (Penny) of Wichita, KS; grandchildren: Eleanor (Mark), Tess (Connor), Tripp (Annie), Jake, Jordan, Thomas (Amber), Paul (Rochelle), Casey, Kelli, and Rhiannon (Alan); 10 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 18, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Shaffer Funeral Home in Ozark, with a graveside service immediately following at Hight Cemetery, Sandy Branch Road in Mulberry, Arkansas. Serving as pallbearers will be David McCain III, Jeff Hildebrand, Tripp James, Jake James, Richie Hightower, Samuel McCain, and Jonathan McCain. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Chris McCain and Gordon “Mack” McCain. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mercy Health Foundation P.O. Box 17000, 2700 South 74th Street, Ft. Smith, AR 72903. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the ICU staff at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith for the compassionate and loving care they provided for David. To leave an online memorial visit www.shafferfuneralhomeweb.com

David Hansel "D.H." McCain Jr.

August 4, 1937 - October 14, 2025