Steve McClane

March 17, 1941 - October 12, 2021

Steve McClane, age 80, of New Market, TN, passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2021. As a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in New Market, Steve served as church treasurer, adult Sunday school teacher, and in various other church positions. He received a B.S. from Carson-Newman College, followed by a M.S. from the University of Tennessee, then further post-graduate work at East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee in science education. He made presentations at the State Science Teachers Association and at the National Science Teacher Association, showing how teachers could use “hands on” experiments to teach science. He taught algebra, geometry, and biology at Washburn High School in Grainger County and Maury High School in Jefferson County for 10 years. Steve then served as principal at New Market Elementary for 5 years; Joppa Elementary for 8 years; Rush Strong Elementary for 12 years; and as the Superintendent of Jefferson County schools for 4 years. While continuing to teach school, Steve and his brother, Darrell, started a dairy and milked cows for 5 years. After raising hogs and farming tobacco for 30 years, he started a beef herd that will continue on. While with the U.S. Forest service, he fought forest fires all over Oregon and worked on a lookout tower, perched 40 feet high in a small cabin. He also performed timber surveys on 4 national forests in Oregon and Washington State. He would leave out on Monday mornings; hike into the backcountry and camp out; then hike back out on Fridays to be picked up. This allowed him to see some beautiful country and a lot of wildlife. He also worked for the TN Wildlife Resource Agency, as a boating safety officer on Douglas and Cherokee lakes. He will always be remembered for his love of farming and the outdoors. He also loved to travel. Steve and Carolyn made many trips out west, while on vacations and hunting trips. Their longest trip was going to Fairbanks, Alaska. They spent over 2 months traveling up the 1500-mile gravel road thru Canada, camping along the way. They traveled several other times across Canada and visited every state but Hawaii. The hunting trips included harvesting whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope, elk and bear. While traveling, they also loved to stop at flea markets and antique stores. Everyday was an adventure! Steve loved to take his grandkids for rides on the tractor, fishing, or teaching them to help on the farm. He was extremely proud of his 3 children and their education; Stephanie, a Doctor of Pharmacy; Michelle, a Medical Laboratory Technologist (Microbiology); and Jared, a Process (Mechanical) Engineer. He would always say “God had greatly blessed him with his wife, family, farm and jobs.” He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carolyn Malone McClane; parents, James and Bonnie Jean McClane; and sister-in-law, Becky Horner McClane. He is survived by his children, Stephanie (Keith) Standifur of New Market, Michelle Woods of Johnson City, and Jared McClane of Knoxville; Brothers, Mike (Carolyn) McClane, Darrell McClane, Pat (Connie) McClane; grandchildren, Addison, Reagan, Haley, Ryan, Samuel, Jonah, Caroline, Joshua; brother-in-law, Bill (Sharron) Loy; nieces and nephews, Matt and Amanda McClane, Dylan, and Aaron Loy, all of New Market. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church. Graveside service 2:30 pm Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Jefferson Memorial Garden with Rev. John Slater officiating. Arrangements by Fielden Funeral Home in New Market.