Birth date: Dec 8, 1918 Death date: Apr 3, 2003
Mack H. McLendon, 84, of Fayetteville, Arkansas died Thursday, April 3, 2003 at the Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born December 08, 1918, in Moorefield, Arkansas the son of Mark H. and Ruth A. Lenehan Mc Read Obituary
I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to meet Mack. Though I only new him for a short while, I could tell that he lived an incredible life because of the family that surrounded him. Anita's eulogy was so touching and so true. Mack's impression on the world is not lost...it lies within all of you. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
One thing I know for sure is that Mack McLendon...my Granddad...my Papa Mack, was the greatest man I have ever known. He was a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word. He commanded respect just by his presence. He was strong, and smart, and generous and loved his family completely and unconditionally. He was our foundation...and in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves.
I was close to my granddad. Though we were generations apart in age and even more so in sensibilities, he understood me, and I understood him, and more importantly, we really enjoyed each other. I would go over to his house and he?d pour me a coke (he always had coke) and we would talk. We?d talk about everything...I?d ask him questions about his life...and he would tell me of the battles he fought in World War II and how he earned his Purple Heart, he?d talk of his adventures raising his family in South America. I?d ask him about my dad?s childhood and any naughty behavior my dad may have displayed, and Papa Mack would disclose every detail...and I would laugh and he would laugh, and we would laugh together. He always wanted to know what was going on in my life, and I always gave him the unedited version.
One of my favorite things about Papa Mack was the way he embraced life, and embraced change. He lived. He lived 84 wonderful years. And as traditional as he was, he was equally modern. When I moved to California, our relationship actually strengthened. He would call me from his cell phone, write me emails, send me digital photos just to check in with me and make sure that I knew how much he loved me. I still know. I always will.
My Granddad gave me many gifts. But, the most cherished is my dad. He gave me the most amazing dad...one who is unsurpassed in fatherhood. My dad means the world to me. And I will forever be grateful to Papa Mack for raising such an incredible man. And I will always remind him...Dad, I will always remind you...how much Papa Mack loved you, and how proud he was to have you as his son. The bond you had with Papa Mack is not severed; it lives on in your heart and between you and James.
I miss my Granddad. I miss his twinkling, blue eyes and his movie-star smile. I miss his voice. I miss his emails. I miss his hands...I used to love to put my hands in his; they always swallowed mine...and made me feel safe.
But I don?t have to miss his love, because it is with me still and will be always.
I am a friend and co-worker of Mack's granddaughter, Anita. It is with my sincerest sympathies to all of the McLendon's on the loss of this wonderful man. Wish I had had the opportunity to meet him. I viewed Anita's eulogy and it was so heartwarming . . . and the pictures are incredible!
Again, my sympathies and love to the McLendon family.
On behalf of my mother, Rose Minden, and myself I offer our sincere sympathy. Mother also wishes to express her loss at not being able to converse with him at NARFE meetings. She so enjoyed those times.
Thinking of you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
My husband had surgery at the time he was in hospital. I just wanted to express my sympathy to your family.
