Hugh Myles McClary

Hugh Myles "H.M." McClary, age 85, a lifelong resident of Polk County, passed away Monday, November 28, 2005 at his home. He was a well known Delano mail carrier for 39 years and a lifelong farmer. He graduated from Polk County High School in 1936, Hiwassee College in 1938, and in 1940 graduated with honors from LMU. Mr. McClary was a founding member of Hiwassee Water Cooperative. He was a member of Polk County Ruritan Club and the Livestock Association. As a member of Polk County Farm Bureau, he received the Distinguished Leader award from the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation in 2003. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Benton.

He was the son of the late Andrew Preston and Mintie Harrison McClary, and was also preceded in death by his first wife, Emma Williams McClary, brothers: Gene McClary and Paul McClary, and sisters: Mary Elizabeth McClary and Nell Higgins.

He is survived by his wife, Thelma V. Cloud McClary of Benton; sons: Hugh Myles "Buddy" McClary, Jr. and wife Dianne, and Tim McClary and wife Marcia, all of Benton; step children: Robin Henderson and Richard Hurt, both of California, Jim Toomey of Cleveland, and JoAnn Scelia of Harrison, NY; sister and brother-in-law, Ruth Ann and Bill Lowery of Vaiden, MS; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Adele McClary of Etowah; aunt, Florence McClary; grandchildren: Jacob McClary, Justin McClary, Laura McClary and Katlyn McClary; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 8:00 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home with Reverend Robbie Speights and Reverend Dave Foote officiating. Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday in Benton Memorial Gardens with the release of a flock of white doves concluding the service. Jacob McClary, Dustin McClary, Morris McClary, Andy McClary, Joe Fetzer, Ted Wilson and Morris Swafford will serve as pallbearers. The Senior Adult Men Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers.

His family will receive friends from 5 - 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.

His family requests that memorials may be made to the Benton Cemetery Fund.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the McClary family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.