Aug. 1, 1923 – Oct. 19, 2013
Paul Gaylon McLain, 90, of Sweet Home, died Oct. 19, 2013 in Portland. He was born Aug. 1, 1923 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. to John Galen and Frances M.L. (Vauris) McLain.
He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1943 to July 1946 on the USS Alabama. He attended Washington D.C. School of Music; U.S. Navy School of Music; DePaul University School of Music; Chicago Conservatory of Music; University of Illinois; and Willamette University in Salem.
Mr. McLain retired from teaching music after 34 years. He taught in Pisgah, Iowa, and South Bend, Wash. before moving to Sweet Home in 1953, where he taught grades four through eight instrumental and vocal music for 31 years.
He was active in the Eastern Star and Masons for over 50 years, attaining 32-degree Scottish Rite Master Mason. His hobbies included amateur radio (WA7NIS), woodworking, leather crafts, lapidary, model making, trains and computers. He was an avid outdoorsman; fishing, hunting, and camping.
He and his wife Frances were life members of the Sweet Home Senior Center where he enjoyed playing chess, checkers, pinochle, and pool, and was a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer.
Mr. McLain is survived by his son, Paul King McLain and daughter-in-law Donna; daughter Marilyn Rebillion and son-in-law Renato; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brother Claud N. McLain.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Frances M. McLain; brother Robert J. McLain; and sisters Alma R. Dirr and Violet Hagerman.
Viewing will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A masonic service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, also at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Sweet Home Senior Center, PO Box 803, Sweet Home, Oregon 97386.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.