A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. in St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, 21 State St. in Oil City with Rev. John Miller as celebrant.  Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry. 

Mary Lou McClelland, 83, passed away ever so peacefully in the arms of her daughter, while at Oakwood Heights, Presbyterian Nursing Home on Sunday, December 10, 2017, following an incredibly long battle with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Mary was born May 20, 1934 in Shippenville, the daughter of the late Enos Beichner and Elda Motter Beichner.

On December 27, 1952, at the tender age of 18, she married the love of her life, James Leroy McClelland, and upon his discharge from the U.S. Navy, they moved to Oil City and eventually began their family. 

In addition to raising their three beautiful daughters, Mary also worked at the Holiday Inn (now the Days Inn) since it first opened, and then at Riverside/Bi-Lo for several years before deciding to stay home and babysit her grandchildren.

Mary was a member of St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church.

Mary is survived by her three daughters and their families: Deborah Schumacher and her husband Bob of Oil City; Lori Truscott and her husband Tom of Columbus, Ohio; and Karen Tracy and her husband Ed of Atlanta, Georgia.  Her six grandchildren include: Michael Schumacher; Patrick Schumacher and his fiancé Natalie and their son Braeden; Gregg Truscott and his wife Laurel and their son Vaughn; Tara Weitthoff and her husband Travis and their daughter Lyla; Tyler Truscott; and Mikaela Tracy. 

Mary had many brothers and sisters, including a surviving brother, Henry Beichner.  Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Tillie Beichner, Imogene Beichner, and Sue Beichner; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James; a grandson, Eric Schumacher; and the following siblings:  Albert, Martha, Ethel, Alvin, Bernice, Ruth, Floyd, Walter, Dottie, and Lucy; and a brother-in-law, Francis Whitmire. 

Being around people, kindness, the love of reading books to her grandchildren, lending a helping hand,  smiling all the time, working in her flower garden, talking and visiting with friends -- these are the wonderful attributes one remembers when thinking of Mary Lou.

Mary's family would like to extend their sincere thankfulness to all the caring staff at Oakwood Heights-Presbyterian Home for the wonderful and loving care provided to our Mother during her ten years with them. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Literacy Council – Lifelong Learning Programs, 679 Colbert Avenue, Suite 101, Oil City, PA  16301;  AseraCare Hospice, 1600 Peninsula Drive , Suite 14, Erie, PA 16505; or Oakwood Heights, 10 VoTech Drive, Oil City, PA  16301.

Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Hile-Best Funeral Home in Seneca.  To express condolences to the family online, please visit www.hilebest.com

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