Andrew "Jack" Mcclain

Jack McClain passed away peacefully at his home in Utopia on February 28th, he was 97.  Jack was a Utopia native who only left the canyon for World War II and for a career as a pilot, longest time as a pilot instructor for United Airlines in Colorado.

Jack was born on February 8, 1925 to Cora Opal Crane McClain and Andrew Jackson McClain. He served during WWII in the Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1945.  He later returned to the Air Force Reserves where he retired as a Major.

In 1947, he married another Utopia native, Mae Inez McReynolds and they had four children.  He worked at various jobs after the war until he went to work as a civilian pilot instructor for the Air Force at Hondo field in 1955, he was back in the air he used to say.  Jack and Inez spent 1966 through 1988 in Colorado where Jack was both an instructor and line pilot for United Airlines.  They could not wait to return to Sabinal Canyon where they built a home and spent retirement square dancing, playing 42 and driving their RV all around the United States.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Inez, and brother-in-law Joseph Clyde McReynolds, Jr.

He is survived by his daughter Diane and her husband Ken Messamore of Beulah, Colorado, son Robert and his wife Sue of Goldthwaithe, Texas, daughter Jackie and her husband Sam Horton of Sabinal and son Don of Utopia: grandchildren Kelly Messamore (Ralph), Kim Miles (Mike), Kenny McClain, Lisa Keller (Chris), Dax Biederman (Jenn), Ross Horton, Linc Biederman (Carianne), Barbara Horton (Aaron), Bobbie Lee McClain and Zack Hudick; great-grandchildren, Jeff Nolan, Peyton Miles, Taylor Biederman, Caden Keller, William Biederman, Trevor Horton, James Edwards, Olivia Biederman, and Coby Keller; sister-in-law, Lois McReynolds, niece Valerie McReynolds, nephews, Greg McReynolds (Kim), Tim McReynolds, Chris McReynolds (Francelia).

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Utopia, Texas. Interment will follow at Waresville Cemetery.