- Date Of Birth: November 23, 1939
- Date Of Death: January 28, 2021
- State: Idaho
Worthy Otis McClain, born near Buckeye Run Road, west of Salem, WV, at the home of his maternal grandparents, Worthy and Ina (Lowe) Underwood, on November 23, 1939, left this life on January 28, 2021, peacefully in the comfort of his family, following a lengthy illness. He was the son of the late Branniard Otis “Jeff” McClain and Juanita Alvilda (Underwood) McClain. Otis married Winona Jean Shuman on May 27, 1965.
Otis was the last surviving member of his immediate family and was preceded in death by his parents; his ex-wife; sister, Loanna Darlene McClain; brother, Willie Edward McClain; daughter, Carolyn Dian McClain; and grandson, Nicholas Isaiah Ketcham.
Otis is survived by and dearly loved his daughters and their children namely: daughter, Donna Jean McClain of Idaho, and her children: Daniel Lars Ketcham and his wife, Deanna Rose, and his daughter by a previous marriage, Journey Elise Ketcham of PA; Sara Lynn (Ketcham) Killian and her husband, Brandon Roger Killian, and their son, Samuel Charles Killian, and Sara’s children by a former marriage, Gabrial Moroni Johnson, Liona Daniel Johnson, and Michael Alexander Johnson of Idaho; Bradley Jerome Ketcham of PA; Jared Nephi Ketcham and his wife, Misty nee Ward of PA; Benjamin Mosiah Ketcham of PA and his son, Tyler, adopted outside the family; Joseph Anders Ketcham and his friend, Sarah Johnson Schultz, and their daughter, Arijah Mae Ketcham of PA; Nathan Tyler Ketcham and his friend, Kirsti Abendschein, and his son, Aiden Xander Abendschein and daughter, Avery Selene Abendschein of PA; Savanna Lace (Ketcham) Archibald and her husband, Justin Dallin Archibald, their son, Ronan Alistair Archibald, and their daughters, Vianna Rose Archibald, Isla Faye Archibald, and Ainsley Shaye Archibald of ID; Victoria Angeline (Ketcham) Hertz and her husband, Zachary Todd Hertz, and their son, Alaric Todd Hertz and daughter, Myrin Mave Hertz of KS; Douglas Arland Ketcham of PA and his daughter, Havyn Daenerys Ketcham, and Vada Rose Ketcham of ID; daughter, Ellen Christine (McClain) Miller [L&D nurse] and her husband, Scott Henry Miller and their children, Brandon Scott Miller and his wife, Krissel Olenka Sandoval (Golan) Miller and their daughter, Faith Krissel Miller of GA; Karl Brady Miller and his wife, Hailey (Hermansen) Miller, and daughter, Evelynn Anya Miller, and a daughter by former marriage, Zyra Naoki Miller of OR; Craig Alan Miller and his wife, Noelle (Duncan) Miller, and their daughters, Ayva Knight Miller and Lily “Lily Pad” Coryn Miller, and son, Rowan Altair Miller of Maine, and Stephanie Michelle Miller and her husband, Tyler Bohn, of GA; daughter, Anna Marie (McClain) Knauer, and her husband, Frank Knauer of Chandler, AZ, and their children, Annalena Faith Knauer and Maren Sylvia Knauer; and daughter, Rebecca Leigh (McClain) Tait and her husband, Graeme Tait of Aberdeen, Scotland, and their children, Noah Francis Tait and Isla Elizabeth Tait, and Rebecca’s children from a previous marriage, Samantha Leigh McClain-Dunlap and her husband, U. S. Naval Ensign Zachary Rossi, Emma Ian Quinn McClain-Dunlap, and F. Owen Paige McClain-Dunlap, all three of AZ. Additionally, Otis is survived by his niece, Valerie Jo (McClain) Gruneau of WV, her son, Aiden Matthew Gruneau, and nephew, Jeffrey Edward McClain of WV.
Otis graduated from Salem College in Salem, WV, in 1963 with a BS degree in Chemistry and Math. He was employed by Fourco’s Clearlite Glass Company in Adamston, WV, for 2 years as a chemist then transferred to PPG Industries and worked as a Quality Control Technician for 9 years and continued as a Systems Analyst Computer Programmer for 27 more years, retiring from PPG Industries in 2001. He served 6 years [1964-1970] in Company C of the 1092nd Combat Engineers of the West Virginia National Guard. During the early years of the Harrison County [WV] Emergency Squad, Otis volunteered many hours as one of the Squad officers, EMT, first aid instructor and ambulance driver. Otis was and always shall be a devout Christian and reads the Holy Bible and considered it to be GOD’s letter to us for our use as a guide by which to live! He was a part time stamp collector and loved to spend time playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, read books and watch movies, and listen to old time country music. He was a WV Knight of the Golden Horseshoe (1954).
In his younger years, Otis was an avid bowler and golfer, he had also been part of his high school marching band and softball team and was active in Vo-Ag and in later years, part of his high school reunion committee. During his life, he enjoyed pizza, ice cream, and Diet Coke especially. He is well know for his love of Science Fiction, namely, Star Trek! He also loved Nicolas Sparks books, Western and classic monster & old Hollywood black and white movies, in addition to shows NCIS, T.P.I.R. and Jeopardy.
