Larry McCain

Larry Glenn McCain, 63, of Mulberry died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, in his home in Pleasant View community where he was born and raised. He was currently serving as director of facilities at Ozark Public Schools. Larry had retired in 2006, but was persuaded to return to work part time by his late good friend Scott Stone, Superintendent of Ozark Schools. He always loved his job but really enjoyed mostly his coffee club buddies. Larry was born September 12, 1947 at Kirksey Hospital in Mulberry. Larry was a 1965 graduate of Pleasant View High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1970 with his Bachelors degree in AgriBusiness. He worked briefly for the Farmers Coop but then started his career teaching at Pleasant View School and then moved into administration at Pleasant View, Ozark, and Mountainburg. He completed his Masters and Specialist degree at the University in 1990. Larry was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at University of Arkansas, Arkansas Education Administrators Associations, and served on the Board of Directors at Arkansas Valley Electric for 26 years. He was also a director for four years on the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Incorporated statewide board. Larry was baptized at Mt. Zion Regular Baptist church and attended the First Baptist Church of Mulberry. One of Larry’s greatest joys was traveling the States in his RV with his family. Some of his favorite things were going to flea markets to buy old tools, finding new recipes to cook in his outdoor kitchen for his family and friends, and eating great food. When Larry wasn’t traveling he enjoyed working in his garden, farming, and “piddlin” around the yard. He never met a stranger and had so much pride for his students and former students. The thing that brought him the most pleasure was being a “Papa” and taking his grandchildren on lots of mini adventures. Larry had an unforgettable smile that would light up a room and he will be greatly missed by family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Hansel McCain, Sr. and Eleanor Grace Hollingsworth McCain. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Malynda; a son, Samuel and wife Jana of Van Buren; a daughter Erin McCain Waterman and husband Aaron of Springdale; two brothers, David H. Jr. and wife Teresa of Mulberry; Gordon and wife Carolyn of Mulberry; one sister, Kay Oliver Love and husband Alan of Greenwood; mother-in-law, Marilyn Hawkins of Mulberry; and four grandchildren, Madeline, Payton, Garrett, and Grant. Funeral service will be Saturday, June 25, at 10am at the First Baptist Church in Mulberry with Pastor Don Cochran officiating, with burial at Hight Cemetery under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.. The family will visit with friends Friday, June 24, from 6-8 pm at Shaffer Funeral Home in Ozark. Pallbearers will be nephews, Gordon McCain Jr., Christopher, Jonathan, and David McCain III, Gordon McCain III, and Justin Wilbanks. Honorary pallbearers will be the Arkansas Valley Electric Board of Directors, Ozark School Central Office Staff, Lonnie Turner, Bill Peters, Dr. Jim Bridges, Louis Whorton and Barton Hunter. Memorials may be made to the Michael K. Gibbons Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bank of the Ozarks, PO Box 196, Ozark, AR 72949 and First Baptist Church, PO Box 312, Mulberry, AR 72947.