John Douglas (Pete) McClellan passed away peacefully on Christmas morning, December 25 th , three weeks prior to his 95 th birthday on January 15, 2024.

Pete was preceded in death by his first wife, June Curl McClellan; his parents, John Roy McClellan, and Sallie Green McClellan; his sisters, Inez McClellan Jones and Hazel McClellan Pope, and son in laws Russell Lee Anderson and Frank Mario Dicesare.

He is survived by his wife Cecelia Smaglis McClellan; daughters Jan McClellan Dicesare of Birmingham, Alabama, and Joy McClellan Crutchfield (Dan) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Beth Detrich Conner (Art) of Richmond Virginia; his grandchildren Eden Hardee Keever (Josh) of Chesapeake, Virginia and her children Wyatt, Reagan, and Loyal; Kristen Anderson Owen of Denver, Colorado and her children Walker and Cooper; James Edward Hardee (Chelsea) of Austin, Texas and his children Frankie, Penny, and Miles; Kenneth Lee Anderson (Kristen Marie) of Shawnee, Kansas and his children Brooklyn and Hannah; Daniel Alan Crutchfield (Jordan); Jordan Clark Crutchfield ( Courtney) and his children Connor and Evie; and Mary Elizabeth Williams and Jessica Marie Williams.

Pete was born in Chattahoochee, Florida, and grew up in Panama City, Florida. He played baseball in junior college in Mississippi and then transferred to Florida State University. He left college when finances were tight and began working for Southern Bell (AT&T) where he had a successful career in marketing for 33 years. During his early employment with Southern Bell, he was drafted and served in the army in the Korean War. When he retired from Southern Bell in 1982, he went to work as a full-time consultant over all communications at the PGA Tour and was one of the longest tenured employees when he retired at the age of 87.

Pete was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren and boasted about them to anyone who would listen. He never met a stranger and there was not anywhere that he traveled that he did not run into someone he knew. Pete led a very active, social life golfing, hunting, fishing and enjoyed watching sports on television. About fifteen years ago as his family began to expand further with the addition of his great grandchildren, his enjoyment of all these things turned to more spiritual things and he became an active member of First Baptist Church where he thrived in Sunday School and Bible studies, there he met Cel, the love of his life for the last seven years. He never missed an opportunity to share his love of the Lord with people he met. He developed a firm religious faith that gives those who love him comfort that he is with Jesus today.

The family is forever grateful for the care and support of the staff of Brookdale Senior Living, VITAS Hospice, and the love and prayers of our dear friends.

There will be a graveside service for the immediate family in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday, January 5, 2024, and a memorial service for extended family and friends later to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC, 28607.