"Ed was such a classy human being, a marvelous colleague, and a wonderful teacher and mentor to students and to young faculty. He certainly proved himself to be an asset to Clemson University during his 32 years on that faculty. My deepest condolences to his family. Bill Ward"
In loving memory of
Edward Lee McLean
October 21, 1934 - August 21, 2019
Edward Lee McLean passed peacefully on August 21 at the Hospice Care Center-Colby Campus, Everett, Washington from complications related to dementia. Ed was born in Beetown Township, Wisconsin on October 21, 1934. Ed grew up on his family farm and graduated from Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Ed farmed with his father for three years and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He spent most of his active duty at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
After his discharge from the U.S. Army, Ed started his academic career which led to a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and a M.S. in Rural Sociology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Following graduation in 1962, Ed married his wife Fae and they moved to Olympia, Washington. Ed spent the next two years working for the Department of Institutions in Washington State as a research analyst. He then returned to graduate school at Iowa State University and received a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1967. Ed's first faculty appointment was at Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas. He had a joint appointment of research and teaching in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. During their time in Iowa and Texas, Ed and Fae welcomed two children, daughter Kristi and son Derek, who enjoyed Ed's attentive and loving approach to fatherhood.
After three years, Ed moved on to Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where he spent the next thirty-two years as a faculty member in the department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. Ed was a mentor for many college students during his career as an advisor for Community and Rural Development majors. Ed was referred to fondly as Captain Ed by the graduate students he advised. After retiring from Clemson University in December of 2001, Ed was awarded the official title of Professor Emeritus of Agriculture and Applied Economics on May 9, 2002.
Ed and Fae moved to Mill Creek, Washington in 2007. Ed and Fae always enjoyed traveling, nature and visited all seven continents and all fifty states. Ed was an avid walker and even hiked Mount Pilchuck in Washington state in his late 60's. Ed enjoyed sports, particularly the Green Bay Packers and watching baseball teams including the Milwaukee Brewers and the Minnesota Twins. Ed enjoyed talking to everyone about his many travels and his career as a professor. Ed was a longtime member of Clemson United Methodist Church in Clemson, SC and a member of Bothell United Methodist Church, WA.
Ed is survived by his wife of 56 years, Fae, of Mill Creek, Washington, his children Kristi Reardon, Derek (Ronda), his grandchildren Annabel, Wesley and Jillian, his brother Maurice (Martha), his sister-in-law Kay Sarris, and six nieces and nephews. Long known for his positive outlook and sense of humor, Ed was a wonderful husband, son, brother, father, grandfather and will be greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family, former students and friends. The family requests that donations in Ed's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Washington State Chapter or Bothell United Methodist Church.
Tributes
"We will always remember Ed's kindness, his thirst for knowledge, his ability to share information with others, and his long career as professor at Clemson, University. Ed was dedicated to his family and his students. We are happy to have Derek as our son-in-law. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fae and the entire family. Love, Doris & Ernest Sligh , . "