"Ben was my brother in law, He was truly a man of honor and integrity. I am grateful to have known Ben and have such fond memories of him and how his wit always added to our family gatherings. I was so impressed with Ben's strength through his adversity, even when things were most difficult he retained his sense of humor. His loss will leave a void in each of us but we have those memories to treasure and his example to follow. I am comforted knowing he is with the Father in heaven and look forward to seeing him again there. Caroline "
In loving memory of
Benjamin Clyde McCain, Maj. USMC, Retired
February 3, 1954 - February 19, 2018
On Monday, February 19, 2018, Benjamin Clyde McCain, Maj. USMC, Ret. of Hollywood, Florida and Missouri City, Texas passed away under the care of Season's Hospice with his family by his side, he was 64.
Ben grew up hunting, fishing, and hiking in the woods in Mississippi. He was a man of strong morals, ethics, and integrity. He loved his wife, his son's and grandchildren and his brother William. He loved taking pictures of flowers and sunsets. His great passion was flying and airplanes and he had his pilots license. He was a true patriot and loved his country.
He is the beloved husband of Juliann McCain, Loving father of Matthew McCain and Sean Crocker (Lazeta). Brother of William McCain (Pixie Ingersol). Grandfather of, Evan, Emily and Brendan Crocker. He is the brother-in-law of, Caroline Maese and Joel and Sharon Maese. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Horizon Funeral & Cremation Services, 4650 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064 where a service to celebrate his life will commence at 6:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Major McCain to the Wounded Warrior's Project, Pets for Vets or the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Tributes
"What a kind and gentle man. Ben was nearly 10 years older than me and treated me like a son in my younger years and as a brother as we got older. He kept me out of trouble better than anyone else could. One of our mother's favorite stories was how on Saturdays she would stay in bed until near noon and at some point I would walk down to Ben and Mike's room to pester my older brothers (Mike and I would fight if left alone long enough, Ben wouldn't let that happen if he was around). After a few minutes Ben would drag me by my foot from their room, past my mother's door and deposit me back in my room with me giggling all the way. Mom said a few minutes later it would play out again, apparently we kept her entertained many Saturday mornings. As we got older he loved introducing me as his "little" brother, if you don't know me, I was 3 or 4 inches taller and sometimes nearly 300 pounds heavier. It's funny I remember him as being so tall and I was actually taller than him by the time I was fifteen. He taught me about proper handling of firearms, taught me to fish, ride a bike, motorcycles and so much more, he taught me some pretty good life lessons as well. Even as an adult he was always concerned about his little brother. I am so happy that Ben and Julie found each other. I couldn't wish for anyone better for my big brother. I miss you Bubba. Till we meet again... "
"May each day bring a lessening of sorrow and peaceful reminders of the love that will live forever in your heart.. The Herberz Family"
"Uncle Ben was an original. His wit and dry humor, accompanied by his genuine kindness will be greatly missed. I will always remember him as a man of strength, integrity, intellect and great love for his family. Rest in peace uncle Ben. Rest in comfort, we will see you again! "
"I met my husband at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Jackson, Mississippi. I was manager on duty that night for the event and was very sick. For much of the night, there was a young Marine Officer standing off to my right. He had a lovely date but seemed to spend little time with her. At the end of the event and without him speaking with me previously, he turned to me and said "We seem to get along very well and I think we would do well going out together. Let's have lunch tomorrow." I said no. But he showed up anyway. The following day I was so ill I could not get up. All I wanted was a Dr. Pepper to drink. I knew that he had said he lived nearby so I went through all the McCain's in the area in the phone book (remember those?) until I found the right one. He showed up with a case of Dr. Pepper, made dinner for my son Sean and sat on the floor to do his home work because he was working on his 2nd degree in Computer Science. We have been together ever since. Our son Matt was born 1 year later, 1 day after the Marine Corps Birthday ball where we had met. He will forever be my knight in shining armor, my hero, my love and best friend. I miss him so much."
"Ben and I met through the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association). So, we became friends on two fronts; we both loved to fly (at the time, I had a Cessna 172SP) and we were both Jarheads (Marines). Ben was a warm, thoughtful person who cared deeply for his family. On any given meeting with him, it was nearly impossible for Juliann or something to do with his family to not come up as part of our conversation. Semper Fi Ben. Semper Fi."
"Benjamin Clyde McCain - BEN I wrote this as part of a GUN Magazine article and at the time Omitted the names Ben, Julie, and Sandra Joy because I did not want it published using their names without permission; however, THIS portion was not published but, I did email it to Ben which launched an FUN fUn memory road email exchange between the two of us. The Gun technicalities are UNIMPORTANT to the story! John OK? One Mk I Story? Yes an Mk I; my best pard (Ben) in crime 2nd grade through USMC had an Mk I while I was still tote-N that RG; uuuuuh! He and me quite literally grew up together in the MISSISSIPPI outdoors (GO OUT SIDE and PLAY) My DAD took us hunting and fishN MORE times than not and we were both Eagle Scouts Troop 12 Clinton MS, Scoutmaster James Taylor WWII Vet D day plus six. Any WHO.... just before our departure for Uncle Sam's Misguided Children; he and me was fixed on just one more survival, hunting, fishing, camping trip, and decided to return to Pipes Lake in the Sandy creek wildlife management area. It was late spring/early summer and some of our supplies were flour, lard, and sugar for blackberry cobblers and fried Blue gills...Yummmm! This deep woods lake WAS full of FISH and often times we would 22 em and had the light refraction thang figured out for our sight picture but one morning while fishing for breakfast we were using our fly rods??? I was doing just fine on the solid bank but, Son (Ben) decided he needed to thread his way through the Cypress knees for a better cast and it took him 20 or 30 minutes to tippy toe out yonder to the clear deep obstruction free water. It was an amusing show but pales in comparison to what happened just as soon as he was settled "HEY SON did you SEE that log POP up?!?!?!" (We called EACH other SON!) Well... turns out that about 10 or 12 feet from Son (Ben) a 10 or 12 foot long log with teeth had begun its one swish of the tail LUNGE; I see it so plain even TODAY because EVERY thing went SLOW MO for me as I'm sure it did for Son (Ben) as well. In one fell swoop Out came that Mk I and with teeth bared human and GATOR with inches and seconds closing FAST all TEN of those 22s went into that BIG Lizard and the threat was sunk into oblivion; AMEN. Funnier still is the fact that Son (Ben) had jumped, skipped, and hopped back to shore in as many seconds as it had taken minutes to get there. We figured the Marine Corps had nothing any more daring to offer than what we had already experienced in outdoor Mississippi so we went home the next day and eventually went on to OCS Quantico and/or Paris Island and found out different! I took the Wife (Sandra Joy) to Pipes Lake years later to substantiate some similar lies about the GOOD OLE DAYS but it was empty; being an old oxbow lake it had spilled back into the creek and for the next millennial or two is now lost. The ONLY current tangibles in the preceding tale are the SON (BEN) living (Forever in MY HEART!!!) in Florida with his wife Julie, my WIFE of 39 YEARS, and my 22s! There was NO Alligator Program then because there were NO(???) alligators in Mississippi at that time; they were REintroduced much later to SAVE them and, have since gotten OUT of HAND!?!?! https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wmas/southwest-region/sandy-creek.aspx Semper fi (Ben) John R. Blair Jr. (Cpl. USMC '77-'81) Utica, MS "