Cainsville, MO: William Robert McLain, second son of Robert Dean and Christine Mae (Wright) McLain, was born in Cainsville, Missouri December 29, 1938 and passed away July 3, 2018 in Bethany, Missouri with family by his side at the age of 79.
When he was born he weighed a few ounces over four pounds. His mother would place him in a shoe box and set it on a chair in front of an open oven door to keep him warm through the cold winter months.
He grew up in a large family and remained close to them all his life.
Robert was baptized as a teenager and placed his membership in the Cain Christian Church. He was never much of a church going man, but he was a believer.
On May 17th, 1959 he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Lila Evelyn Ross and to this union three children were born: Morgan, Kay, and Ronda all whom he loved dearly and called on the phone often of an evening. The grandchildren were the light of his life as he taught them all to drive his old blue pickup, let them jump on the hay bales, and feed apples to the cows. The grandchildren are Page, Sierra, Walker, and Joshua. Then the great-grandchildren came along and that was a joy to him as he would take great-grandsons Carson and Hunter on rides on the lawn mower (with the blades off for safety). He was so happy to watch great-granddaughter Kaylynn with her cute smile and funny way of army crawling and see her start to walk. Robert was happy to hear great-grandson Sawyer was starting to walk and little great grandson Jackson was crawling with such a happy smile.
Robert or “Bud” as he was called owned and operated McLain Service in Cainsville for 46 years. He wanted to be there 50 years, but ill health forced the closing of the station in 2012. Many people visited at the station with “Bud”, Jack, and Garland Moss over the years. “Bud” gave two generations of children bubble gum, candy bars, and pop. Lila said if they had all the money he’d spent on the giveaway treats they would have been rich.
After a day at the station and on the weekends, you could always find Robert at the farm, working with the cattle, chopping brush or moving hay bales. This was his form of relaxation.
Children’s Memories
Morgan remembers his mom wanting him to go to church, the only way out of that was cutting wood with his dad. He remembers fondly the times spent fishing and mushroom hunting with his dad as well.
Kay remembers her dad’s enjoyment of scaring everyone by jumping out from behind a door or refrigerator at the station or at home. I’m sure many of you remember those times.
Ronda remembers her frequent trips to the station after school for a pop and candy bar. One day a salesman came knocking and Ronda was tasked to get her dad (who was underneath a car on a creeper). While working under the car a wrench slipped and hit him on the head, a few choice words were said. The sales men heard all this and ran off fearing those words were for him. “Bud” slid out from under the car to find the salesman gone, he wasn’t upset.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Christine and Robert McLain, mother and father-in-law, Laura and Floyd Ross, brother, Jack McLain, sister-in-law, Rosemary McLain, brothers-in-law, Kenneth and Marvin Ross and Jerry Chandler, niece, Gina Maddox and an infant niece and nephew.
Robert is survived by his wife of 59 years Lila; son, Morgan and wife, Sherri McLain, Lenexa KS; daughters, Kay and husband, Randall Thomas, Ronda and husband, Bryan Pash, Bethany MO. Granddaughters, Page and husband, Joseph Eads, Bethany MO, Sierra and husband, Nathan Wolf, Weatherby MO. Grandsons, Walker Thomas, Columbia MO, and Joshua Pash, Bethany MO. The in-laws were considered by Robert to be his children. Great grandsons, Carson and Hunter Eads, Sawyer and Jackson Pash. Great granddaughter, Kaylynn Wolf. Eleven brothers and two sisters, Randal (Joan) McLain, Kansas City, MO, Clifford or “Lefty” McLain, Gary (Kathy) McLain, Jim (Sharon) McLain, Kenneth (Barb) McLain, Richard (Connie) McLain, Christy Chandler all of Cainsville MO, Tom McLain, Kansas City MO, Joe McLain, Rex (Brenda) McLain, Cainsville MO, Ed (Roxanne) McLain, Pleasant Valley MO, Dixie (Mark) Waddle, Cainsville MO and Ronnie McLain of Lamoni IA. As well as a sister-in-law, Bessie McLain, Princeton, MO and several nieces and nephews, along with other family members and lots of friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 10 at the First Christian Church, Cainsville, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Cain Cemetery, Cainsville, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and/or Cain Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com