Visitation will be on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Atkinson Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Show Me Christian Youth Home, 24302 Mahin Rd, La Monte, MO 65337 or Gospel Fires Mission.
Clarence was born April 1, 1936 on his family farm in Harrisonville, Missouri, a son of Clarence Madison McVay and Josie Abby (Hess) McVay. He grew up in the Harrisonville area and graduated with the Class of 1954 from Archie High School. Clarence met and married the love of his life, Elaine Sweet, on August 19, 1955. Over their 66 years of marriage, they still enjoyed each other’s company and were always finding things to do together. He spent his career working for Bendix, moving up through the ranks in his 40+ years of service to them, retiring in the power house as an operating engineer. Some of his greatest enjoyments were spending time golfing with his buddies or playing cards with them when the weather wasn’t nice, fishing, and farming. There was always a large garden and he love to give his produce away. He had a true passion for raising pecan trees, planting and grafting over a 100 nut-bearing trees in the last 40 years, He always looked forward to the fall harvest. He was a member of the Adrian Christian Church in Adrian, Missouri. Clarence leaves behind a legacy of hard work and love for his family.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George McVay; and sisters: Betty Norton, Colleen Jenkins, Marjorie Bean, and Doris McVay. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; his children: Susan Westmoreland (Frank Urton) of Archie, MO, and Gene McVay of Archie, MO; seven grandchildren: Rick Dines, Jeremy (Amanda) McVay, Scott McVay, Michael (Mary) McVay, Mindy (Ben) James, Will (Molly) Urton, and Cassie (John) Morrison; 7 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Clarence was born April 1, 1936 on his family farm in Harrisonville, Missouri, a son of Clarence Madison McVay and Josie Abby (Hess) McVay. He grew up in the Harrisonville area and graduated with the Class of 1954 from Archie High School. Clarence met and married the love of his life, Elaine Sweet, on August 19, 1955. Over their 66 years of marriage, they still enjoyed each other’s company and were always finding things to do together. He spent his career working for Bendix, moving up through the ranks in his 40+ years of service to them, retiring in the power house as an operating engineer. Some of his greatest enjoyments were spending time golfing with his buddies or playing cards with them when the weather wasn’t nice, fishing, and farming. There was always a large garden and he love to give his produce away. He had a true passion for raising pecan trees, planting and grafting over a 100 nut-bearing trees in the last 40 years, He always looked forward to the fall harvest. He was a member of the Adrian Christian Church in Adrian, Missouri. Clarence leaves behind a legacy of hard work and love for his family.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George McVay; and sisters: Betty Norton, Colleen Jenkins, Marjorie Bean, and Doris McVay. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; his children: Susan Westmoreland (Frank Urton) of Archie, MO, and Gene McVay of Archie, MO; seven grandchildren: Rick Dines, Jeremy (Amanda) McVay, Scott McVay, Michael (Mary) McVay, Mindy (Ben) James, Will (Molly) Urton, and Cassie (John) Morrison; 7 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
