Visitation for Imo J. McLean, 103 years young, Clinton resident will be held Sunday, February 7, 2021 in the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Family will greet guests at the funeral home 3:00 P.M. till 5:00 P.M.; She will be laid to rest next to her late husband in Dunn, North Carolina at a later date.
Imo Johnson McLean was born July 3, 1917 in Clinton, Oklahoma to Menno Johnson and Mina (Smith) Johnson of Bessie, OK. She left this earth for her heavenly home on Thursday, February 4, 2021 in the Angelwood Assisted Living Center in Clinton, OK.
She was the second daughter of the small town grocer in Bessie, OK. She grew up in the living quarters of Menno’s Market, where her six siblings and she resided after the sudden death of their mother. She attended Bessie School and graduated with the Class of 1935. School and Book learning were not her fortes, often having her sisters, and even the butcher, Ben Kerschner, of their store helped her with home work. However, she was an excellent Seamstress, outfitting her sisters and nieces with incredible garments. Her talent landed her a position in Oklahoma City with Halliburton’s Department Stores. The 11 th floor of fabric and notions were her domain; seasonal window mannequins were wearing all of Imo’s Apparels.
A single career girl, she enjoyed life with friends, her job and especially ballroom dancing. Eventually she became the manager of her apartment building, “The Melrose”, and there she met her husband to be, B. C. “Mac” McLean. She rented him an apartment for his tenure while in Oklahoma City for schooling with the F.A.A. They were married in April of 1967 and they soon moved to his home state of North Carolina. His aeronautical job moved them to numerous places from South Carolina to Florida. They frequently traveled across the states, visiting family and friends while seeing the sights along the way. After Mac preceded her in death, Imo returned to her home of Oklahoma, settling in McAlester. Where her brother, Bill and his family resided, her home was the gathering place for many family get-together, with Imo being the perfect hostess.
At the age of 98, she moved to Clinton to be closer to her nieces and other family members. She became a resident of the Angelwood Assisted Living Center and soon adjusted to the community living. She loved the monthly family nights and get togethers.
She is also preceded in death by her parents, step mother, Ethel Grimma Johnson, sisters, Novice Jewel Kirschner, Maureen “Mickey” Guthrie, Doris Johnson, brothers, Maurice “Bill” Johnson, A.B. Johnson, and two step sons, Clay McLean and Harry McLean and niece, Jeannie Estes.
She is survived by a step-daughter, Annette McLean, Raleigh, NC; sister, Alva Jean Merritt, Sapulpa, OK; nieces, Ann Brown, Clinton, OK, Helen Vowell, Thomas, OK, Karen Viator, Fulshear, TX, Denise Maggart, Magnolia, TX, Cheryl Lauder, Weatherford, OK, Judi Miller, Roseburg, WA, Kellee Drumond McAlester, OK; nephews, Kent Merritt, Sapulpa, OK, Bryan Guthrie, Oregon City, OR, Steven Guthrie, Guaymas, Mexico, John Johnson, McAlester, OK ; great nieces and nephews, cousins, Maxine Page and B.J. Brown.
Family has suggested memorials may be made to the Bessie Fire Department which is housed in the building in Bessie where she grew up.