With great sadness and bittersweet gratitude, the McClain family announces the passing of our kind, strong, caring, and generous wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Mrs. Jerene “Jere” Anne Hopkins McClain of Lake Wylie, South Carolina.  She passed away peacefully at home on May 19, 2023, at the age of 87 with family and surrounded by love as she was welcomed into Gods open arms.

Born April 12, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to the late William Vance and Helen Louise (Shaw) Hopkins, Jere was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, James “Jim” Harrison McClain, and her brother, William Vance Hopkins, Jr.

She was raised in Des Moines IA where she experienced both the suburban and rural communities.  In her youth, she raised and trained horses, tended to chickens and other livestock on a working hobby farm before moving to the suburbs to attend Roosevelt High School.  In high school she was accomplished in not only academia but played basketball, sang in the choir, played clarinet in the band, was pianist who received top honors at music contests and played and sang with a vocal quartet. 

In college at the University of Iowa she pursued studies to become a dental hygienist, was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and met Jim McClain, her husband and partner in life and they were together for 63 years.  Jere had a successful career early in life as a dental hygienist and transitioned to teaching piano in her home as her children became school age.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She delighted in every moment spent with those she loved most all the way to the end.   Jere embodied the spirit of celebrating life’s moments that matter and making them special.  From your favorite dinner and cake on a birthday to traditions long remembered around the holidays.  From her influence, all her children know their way around a kitchen and she enjoyed having them whip up new recipes in hers.  She believed it was more important to give the gift of time together then something you would unwrap.  She cherished having her family around the kitchen table for a meal and catching up on everyone’s busy lives.  She took an active role in the lives of her children.  Whether it was being a homeroom mother, chaperoning field trips, cheering on from the stands at sporting events to making costumes and baked goods to sell to raise money for the Booster Club. She was engaged in her faith and ensured her children also had a strong foundation as active members of a church family no matter where they lived through the years.  She would spend time at the lake cabin in the summers pulling the kids on water skis and innertubes and always welcomed kids into her home as the gathering spot. She loved the energy that came with a houseful.  She gave guidance through the years as her children grew and she supported them through their decisions though her kids know they tested that many times.

As her children began their own lives, she became more involved in church groups and choir, volunteering her time at local organizations such as the Community Cafe (she was known affectionately as the Sandwich Lady) and Sweet Repeat, pursuing her second love of tennis and social golf and expanding her artistic skills into watercolor painting.  When she had to transition from playing physical sports, she still supported them by being a scorekeeper for the Charlotte Area Tennis Association for many years and helping organize food for tennis events.  Jere enjoyed entertaining in their lovely home and welcomed social card and domino groups to gather there.  She was a consummate caregiver and supported her mother through her last years as well as her husband Jim as he battled COPD.  After moving so many times over the years with Jim’s work, she was grateful to settle into her life in SC due to the people who came into her days and counted her blessings daily that she had so many happy years there.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Nuzum (Bruce), Cumming, IA; her sons, Jeff McClain, Kennesaw, GA, and John McClain (Jenny) Mundelein, IL; and forever remembered by her grandchildren, Michael, Alex, Jack (Evee), Madison, and Ella; and her great-grandchild, Abra.

Her legacy will carry on reminding us to do everything with strong values, honesty and integrity.  To persevere and lean into faith when faced with difficult times. To choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service, to be kind and extend a warm genuine smile and helping hand.  She truly cared deeply for people around her and if you knew her, you knew you were special.  When her time came, she carried herself with dignity, strength and full of love for those who went before her. She will be forever missed.

There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to have caregivers and neighbors who went above and beyond to help the family make sure her final days and weeks were the best they could be and that she could live out her remaining days in the home she loved so much with friends nearby. They are comforted knowing there is now peace for Jere.

Your kindness and sympathy at this time is more deeply appreciated than any words of thanks can ever express.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday June 24th at 11:00 am at The Journey at Lake Wylie.  With Jere’s commitment to serving others and creating connections over a good meal, if so inclined, you are welcome to make a contribution in Jere’s memory to The Community Café, 5415 Highway 557, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 and note “In Jere’s Memory” in the memo line.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.