Elizabeth Mary "Pat" McClellan

Elizabeth Mary "Pat" McClellan, 92, of Rockford, Ill., passed into the loving arms of the Lord on March 23, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband Harvey Franklin McClellan. She was born June 3, 1923 in Chicago, the daughter of Louis Dunlap Chatman and Laura Glowing Chatman. She married Harvey on August 29, 1942 and together they raised four children. She is survived by daughters Cherie (Stan) Grunske of Grand Rapids, Mich. and Laurie (David) Van Dreese of Rockford; sons, Bruce "Mac" (Jonelle) McClellan of Tyler, Texas and John (Marcia) McClellan of Mount Horeb, Wis.; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Steve) Thorson, Sarah Van Dreese, Shannon (Clinton) Piper, Matthew McClellan, Michael (Ariana) McClellan and Sean and Donovan McClellan; and six great-grandchildren, Natalie, Hannah, Spencer, Cameron and Phoebe Thorson and Madelyn McClellan. Pat was a creative, intelligent, gifted person and her love of the arts, reading and learning was a legacy she gave her children. She adapted to the many states where Harvey's work in sales would take them in their 68 years of marriage. Wherever they moved she created a beautiful home, making sure the family had the opportunity to visit the many cultural offerings of each new area. She was a troop leader for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts and was active in local theater productions. As the town librarian in Hartland, Wis., she installed the Dewey Decimal System and when she and Harv retired to Rogers, Ark. she taught literacy. She was a talented painter, storyteller and poet with several published works. She and Harv were also world travelers, having visited England, France, Canada, China and Russia, where she handed out Bibles in a women's prison to spread the Lord's word. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sun., May 22, 2016 at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home Mulford Chapel, 1860 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, Ill. with Maureen McClain officiating. Cremation rites have been accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.