Mary Alice Mcclellan

Mary Alice (Peake) McClellan, affectionately known as Mary Alice to her friends and loved ones, passed away peacefully on the 4th of July, 2024, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Born on November 17, 1941, in Buffalo Valley, TN, Mary Alice's warmth and kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.

Mary Alice's early education took place at Swallow School, where she laid the foundation for her lifelong love of learning, culminating in the achievement of her GED. She later pursued higher education with great enthusiasm and dedication, graduating from Tennessee Technological University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Her commitment to education was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her.

Professionally, Mary Alice, alongside her late husband, John Lee McClellan, was the beloved co-owner of John's Place. There, she brought joy and entertainment to her customers, creating a welcoming atmosphere that many will fondly remember. Her entrepreneurial spirit also led her to become a co-owner of Hooker Funeral Home in Algood, TN, where she served with compassion and dignity. Mary Alice also served her community through the Putnam County Health Department. She retired from there with over 30 years of service.

Beyond her business endeavors, Mary Alice was a devoted mother and grandmother, whose love and care knew no bounds. Her culinary skills, particularly her famous caramel cake, were a testament to her love for her family and friends. Mary Alice's faith was a cornerstone of her life; she became a member of Burton's Chapel United Methodist Church at an early age and embraced her faith with conviction, a testament to her kind and friendly nature.

Mary Alice's interests extended to her church activities, where she was a beacon of light and guidance to many. Her unwavering faith and the joy she found in her relationship with Christ were evident to all who met her. Her church family at Burton's Chapel United Methodist Church will deeply miss her steadfast presence.

She leaves behind to cherish her memories a son, John Howard McClellan; and grandson, Christian McClellan; other grandchildren, Greg Brown, Charlton King, Derrick McMurry, Jason McClellan, Cherrie Glenn, Mary Wilson, Rita McClellan, and Juanita Booker; step-children, Shirley (Paul) Marchbanks and Marciana (Sherry) McClellan. She has a host of great-grandchildren along with nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Amie Lillian Stewart Peake and Eugene Peake; her loving husband John L McClellan, four sisters, Carrie Mae Hayes, Ruby Nell Jernigan, Barbara Sue Martin and Margaret Ann Hurt; and seven brothers, Leon, Frank, James, Robert, Thomas, Junior, and Willard Peake.

The funeral services to celebrate the life of Mary Alice McClellan will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, at Cookeville First United Methodist Church. The service will be officiated by Rev. Diantha McLeod and Rev. Kenneth Edmondson, who will honor her memory and her journey of faith. Following the service, Mary Alice will be laid to rest at Cookeville City Cemetery, where she will be surrounded by the community she cherished.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, July 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Additionally, there will be a time for visitation on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church, prior to the funeral service.

Mary Alice's life was marked by her kindness and friendliness, which radiated from her and touched everyone she encountered. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind, and her memory will continue to inspire kindness and warmth in the community she loved so dearly. Mary Alice McClellan will be profoundly missed, but the impact of her life will be felt for generations to come.