F. Willis Mcclaren

Frank Willis McClaren, "Willie", as he was known by all, was a man of many passions. When he
first met June Carney Scott, who was a war widow with a small daughter, it was love at first
sight. June's daughter, Carol, welcomed Willie as her new dad by biting him on his backside.
June and Willie had four other daughters, Julie, JoDene, who died a few days after birth, Susan,
and Denise.

As they raised their four daughters in their small house in Lewis, Willie's passion became to
have another bathroom. With five women and he sharing the one small bathroom, he knew he
was outnumbered. With the help of a couple of carpenter friends, he tripled the size of the
house and doubled the number of bathrooms. He always said he'd never have to watch soap
operas, because his daughters, provided four different channels of their own.

Willie's farming and cattle ranching were also his passions. He loved farming, from planting to
harvesting. To supplement his growing family, he bought a service station in Lewis. then another
in Kinsley. These business ventures became "Mac's Service." His wife and daughters even
named their bowling team "Mac's Service Girls."

Later in life when he was losing his eyesight to macular degeneration, he still continued what he
called "windshield farming," by being driven around the countryside to see the fields as well as
he could. On these rides, he could tell you who owned which piece of land, who they bought it
from and when. who farmed it in any given year, and how well the crops did that year.

For recreation, he loved fishing and hunting. He was proud that he and June, then he and his
daughters Susan and Denise went fishing in Colorado for 61 consecutive years. 2013 was the
first year he did not make it to a fishing pond in Colorado. One of his best fishing memories was
the time he and his brothers, Bruce and David, stayed in the Colorado fishing cabin and talked
"fishing and farming."

Throughout his long life, Willie had a strong passion for music, especially band music, and
especially John Philips Sousa marching band music. Another favorite was "76 Trombones" from
the musical "The Music Man." He performed "76 Trombones" for the enjoyment of Edwards
County audience members several years ago.

While Willie was in high school, he received a "highly superior" rating on his trumpet solo at the
state music festival. He was humble about his talent and accomplishment, but when he told of
earning the highest rating, he always mentioned he felt he could have hit that high "C" a little
stronger if he hadn't "blown out his lip" when he practiced.

Mer graduation from Lewis High school in 1939, he and some other musical buddies formed a
band. They played community concerts and dances in the area, calling themselves the
"Germantown Band." After World War II broke out, they changed their name to the "Hobo Band,"
because they didn't want to be associated wjth Hitler's Germany.

Willie and one of his buddies drove to California after high school graduation where Wilfie worked
for Lockheed Aircraft Com pany as a riveter building the P 38 airplanes. He played baritone in the
Lockheed employee's band. That band was even featured in a war movie "Wings for Victory"
starring Herbert Marshall and Ann Sheridan. He remembered being on the wooden stage built
for the band in the movie set with the movie stars also on the platform. (We have searched for a
copy of the movie but have been so far unsuccessful.)

Willie left Lockheed and California and came back to Kansas when he joined the hmy Air Force,
but he could only serve three months due to the development of rheumatic fever. Even though
he could not serve in any war theater, he was still a hero. While he was in the military hospital
for three months, he wrote letters home for the other sick and wounded soldiers who needed
help writing to their loved ones. He received an honorable medical discharge.

While farming and managing his service stations, he continued playing in community bands
throughout his life. Even when he could no longer see the sheet music, he played by heart
June's favorite song "You Are My Sunshine" on his baritone when she was living at Medicalodge
before she died. He enjoyed Julie's piano and band concerts, and even enjoyed his great
granddaughter Kate's John Philips Sousa band concert just last July 4th in Great Bend. Hearing
his daughter Susan and granddaughter Stacy sing "The Lord's Prayer" always brought him to
tears. He was as proud of his grandson Scott's piano talents as he was of his fishing talents.

Other passions he held during his life were animals. He always had a dog, a hunting dog,
several pets and their puppies, horses, and numerous cats. Carol bought him a sign for his
house once that read "If you want the best seat in the house, you'll have to move the dog," and
that was a true statement.

He also loved to feed the birds. He and daughter Susan built birdhouses, bird feeders, and other
wood projects in his shed when he lived in his "house on the hili." Once when he was plowing a
field he drove the tractor around a mother killdeer to avoid destroying her nest and babies. He
didn't even mind that that row was a bit crooked. He fed his birds daily until he was no longer
capable. He even built creative teeter-totters for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

When he sold cattle, the buyers were always somewhat surprised to learn he had named his
cows. They didn't know any other cattlemen who sold Big Red, Shorty,or Loudmouth.

Willis' deepest passion was for June and their children. Even though his girls are all
grandmothers now, they called him "daddy" because that's who he was. Carol told him as he
lay dying, "You loved me even when you didn't have to." He was kind and generous. Susan
called him her "best friend," especially when they bonded over their wood projects. He
appreciated Denise for taking him for "windshield farming" rides. He respected and admired
Julie to help him understand his physical conditions and medications. They all worked as a
team, because they all shared Willie's passion for "family."