Donnie McClain

Donald R. "Donnie" McClain, age 74, formerly of Charleston, died Thursday, October 20, 2022, at his home in Sikeston.

Born April 19, 1948, in Charleston, MO, to the late J.C. McClain and Earline Delk McClain, he grew up in the Bridges Community of Mississippi County and was a graduate of Kelly High School at Benton.

Following his high school graduation, he went to work at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis but returned home to Charleston where he was employed at Brown Shoe Company and at the Kerr-McGhee Gas Station.   In the early 1970's, Donnie and his brother Gerald, bought the Ferrell Brothers Market on West Market Street in Charleston where they operated as McClain Brother's Market a number of years.   Dedicated to customer service and a strong commitment to the community, they continued to build the business and in 1985 bought the property on South Main Street in Charleston where they moved the store and renamed it McClain's Food Center.  The legacy of customer service given by a family owned grocery store continues today.

Donnie was a former member of the Charleston Kiwanis Club and Charleston United Methodist Church until moving to Sikeston a few years ago where he and his wife became a members of the Wesley United Methodist Church.

On November 19, 1966, he married Mae Meeks, who survives of the home in Sikeston.

Also surviving is daughter, Melissa (Tim) Merideth in Sikeston; his grandchildren, Jessica Lynn Merideth and Connor McClain Merideth; his brothers and sisters, Gerald (Daisy) McClain; Carl (Linda) McClain; Wanda Starks and Margaret McKinney; sisters in law, Paula McClain and Betty Essary; also, a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Tracey Lynn McClain on January 16, 1988.  Also preceding him in death were his brothers, John Essary and Gary McClain, and his sisters, Freda Woodruff and Rayola Groves.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 24, 2022, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.  Rev. Paullester Walker, pastor of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Sikeston, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Shawn McClain, Chalk McClain, Darrin Skinner, Don Meeks, Jerry McClain, II., and Johnny Groves.

Honorary pallbearers will be past and present employees of McClains Food Center.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com .

In lieu of flowers, plants and gift items, the family requests memorials gifts be made to:   Wesley United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 472, Sikeston, MO 63801 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38015