Bill Trammell “Buck” McClellan entered the presence of his Savior on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. There he joined his wife of 63 years, Mary Amelia Goulding McClellan, who preceded him in death by 15 days. Buck was born on August 15, 1934 in Elizabethton, Tenn., to John Chesterfield McClellan and Mary Virginia Trammell McClellan. He was a graduate of Elizabethton High School in 1952, attended ETSC and then went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee majoring in business. Buck worked his entire career with The Paty Company starting in 1947 sweeping floors for his father at the age of 13 and ending as a senior vice president and stockholder upon his retirement in 1999.
Buck was a talented basketball player in high school and made the Tennessee All-State team as a starting guard in 1952. Following marriage to his beloved wife, Mary, Buck enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany for two years where he and Mary enjoyed visiting sites in Europe when he wasn’t on guard duty. He was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church where he was active for most of his years in administration, facility improvements and Sunday School.
Living most of his life in Johnson City, he was for a number of years a member of the Johnson City Country Club where he enjoyed playing golf and tennis and taking sports trips with his friends. Buck’s favorite hobby was woodworking, and he made a number of pieces of furniture and toys that are still treasured by his family. He also designed and built the family home. Buck served the community in retirement transporting youth to Buffalo Mountain Church Camp, making deliveries for Meals on Wheels with his beloved church buddies and providing transportation and other support for Family Promise of Greater Johnson City, a ministry he cared for very much.
In retirement, Buck especially enjoyed finding and renewing old friendships from high school, college and the army. Buck enjoyed traveling to many U.S. states and countries in the world with his wife, family and friends. But he especially loved hiking in all seasons with his beloved wife in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. He and another special FUMC friend spent many hours hiking to the waterfalls he especially enjoyed. But above all, Buck cherished his role as husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He spent many hours playing with all of them and attending their many extracurricular events and taking them on special outings and trips.
Buck is survived by his daughters, Nancy Morrison (Robert), Kathryn McClellan and Deborah Dills; four grandchildren, Ashley Briefel (Jason), Matt Morrison (Cammie), April Dills and Julie Dills; two great-granddaughters, Magnolia Briefel and Annabelle Briefel; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, Buck was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Nancy McClellan Walker.
If you would like to honor Buck with a donation, his family suggests Family Promise of Greater Johnson City, P.O. Box 205, Johnson City, TN 37605 or First United Methodist Church of Johnson City.
The family will greet friends to share memories at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 10, until a Celebration of Buck’s Life at 3 p.m. in the Sunrise Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Services, Johnson City, with Rev. Betty Furches and Rev. Jodie Ihfe officiating. Buck will be laid to rest at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Services, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, TN 37604, (423) 610-7171, is honored to serve the McClellan family. The obituary was lovingly submitted by the McClellan family.