Mary Louise McClelland

MCCLELLAND, Mary Louise (Hunter) - age 78, of Grand Blanc, MI, died peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2019. A Funeral service will be held in her honor at 4:00PM, Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Hill Funeral Home, 11723 S Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, MI. Visitation will be held 12:00PM until the time of service on Wednesday.

Mary was born September 15, 1941 in Grand Blanc, the daughter of Clarence and Earldean (Rudisail) Hunter. She was a graduate of Grand Blanc High School in 1959, where she graduated in the top 10 of her class and met the love of her life, Dale E. McClelland. Upon graduating they soon were married on April 30, 1960 (of almost 60 years) and had three children (Teresa, Brian and Mark). She went on to receive a Bachelors in Education from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Special Education from Oakland University. She taught Elementary School and Middle School throughout the Grand Blanc and Fenton School districts. Her and her husband, Dale went on to own and operate several businesses, some of which included Homestead Needle Arts, a 711 store and Financial and Tax Planning.

She had a passion and keen eye for decorating and transforming a dull space into a work of art, much like she did with the restoration of the Victorian home they purchased in 1986, after selling their lake house on Silver Lake in Fenton. The family poured their heart and soul into the home, where they created many memories and collected their treasures from their travels all around the world. Her and husband Dale, loved to travel extensively. Traveling to 14 countries, visiting the Great Wall of China, participating in nine international hunting safaris, experiencing many new adventures together and instilling that passion into their children and grand-children throughout their lives. With that passion growing, they went on to purchase a Game Ranch in South Africa, where hunting safaris were guided and the family was able to travel and share the love of hunting from 2000-2011.

The last few years of her life were spent residing in their family home on Hubbard Lake in Spruce, MI, which she designed and built in 1984. Here they created some of the best memories doing what she loved to do most, spending time with family, teaching, laughing, entertaining and living life to the fullest with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Here she loved to display her love of the Victorian Era with dolls and collectables, their animal trophies from around the world, read, put puzzles together, play cards, go on boat rides, collect cars and watch the family ski and enjoy the weather, water and sunsets the landscape provided. During this time, she also enjoyed spending the winter months at their home in Naples, Florida.

When asked during the last few months of her life, how she would describe her life in a word, she said “WHAT AN ADVENTURE – NO REGRETS!”

Surviving are: Husband, Dale E. McClelland; 3 children, Teresa (Dale) McClelland-Sargent, Brian (Marie) McClelland, Mark (Renee) McClelland; brother, Michael (Peggy) Hunter; 7 grandchildren, Morgan (Kane) Tarchalski, Jason (Nicki) Brown, Madison (Devin) Forman, Hunter McClelland, Dillon McClelland, Brittany (Andy) Paul and Alexis Brissette; 6 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Clarence McClelland Hunter; mother, Earldean (Rudisail) Hunter; and sister, Lisbeth Kreiter.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to Women in Education at 1401 E. Court St., Flint MI, 48503