Jo Ann McLane McClaren

Jo Ann McLane McClaren, of Grand Prairie, Texas, graduated to be with the Lord she loved on April 23, 2016, at the age of 84, after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. While Jo Ann’s time upon this earth has ended, she is only beginning her time in eternity in the presence of her Lord.
Jo Ann left a tremendous legacy. She blazed a trail of faith, hope and love. Her abounding energy, joy and strength were evident in all areas of her life. She was filled with compassion and her outward beauty was accompanied by her tenacious spirit and heart of gold.
She was born in 1931, in Cameron, Texas, to Robert Drayton McLane and Gladys Blaylock McLane, graduating from C.H. Yoe High School in 1948.
As a young girl, she enjoyed accompanying her father at his wholesale grocery business, McLane Company, and she later worked there upon her return from Austin College.
She married Sherwood “Mac” McClaren following his graduation from Texas A&M in 1953. After he served several years in the U.S. Army, they moved to College Station, Texas. In 1961, they sank deep roots in Grand Prairie, where Mac was an aerospace engineer until his death in 1986.
Their marriage was one of big dreams, great energy and a passion for Christ and serving others. Their lives and friendships centered around First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, where Mac served as a deacon, and they both served as Bible study teachers and in many aspects of church life.
As Mac experienced many health challenges during his young adult life, including paralysis, God gave Jo Ann the exceeding energy, loving patience and amazing grace to care for Mac and her two young children. Her duties were many and the demands were great. She was the one that kept everything moving forward for the family and was everyone’s hero. Yet, nothing made her more proud than her children: Bob and Janet. Her faith, perseverance, wisdom and devotion to her family allowed her to fill all the gaps and meet every challenge. Steadfast and strong, she was determined to live the faith she believed.
The past three decades provided Jo Ann with opportunities to pursue her many interests. She built a successful residential real estate company that provided housing to many people and a platform to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to her tenants and business associates.
She also enjoyed being involved in the lives of her three beloved grandchildren: Bryn McClaren, Ryle McClaren and Luke Salazar. They all had a special relationship with her. She was faithful in attending their many activities and was always their loudest cheerleader and constant encourager.
Family and friends brought so much joy throughout Jo Ann’s life. She loved her parents and was a devoted and loving daughter. Her relationships with her sister, Kate McLane Dimmitt, and her brother, Drayton McLane, were particularly special. Cousins, nephews and nieces were all very important and close to her. In addition to her three grandchildren, sister, and brother, Jo Ann is survived by her son, Bob McClaren, and his wife, Dana Livingston McClaren, and her daughter, Janet McClaren Salazar, and her husband, Orlando Salazar.
A funeral service celebrating Jo Ann’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the April 26, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, 950 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie, Texas, where Dr. Bill Skaar will officiate.
Interment will follow at 4 p.m., at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Cameron.
Memorials may be made in Jo Ann’s memory to First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, 950 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052-6019.