James Lee McClaran Jr., age 92, of Smyrna, TN, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. A native of Murfreesboro, TN he was preceded in death by his parents, James Lee and Nannie Patterson McClaran Sr; and three brothers, Bill, Sam, and Pat McClaran.

Funeral services will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna. Brother Wayne Cornwell and Brother Tim Lavender will officiate. Burial will be in Mapleview Cemetery with Military Honors.

Mr. McClaran is survived by his wife, Betty Whitman McClaran; daughter, Anita McClaran Lewis and her husband, Mike of Murfreesboro; two sons, Steve McClaran and James T. McClaran both of Smyrna; grandchildren, Jeff Youngs and his wife, Cindy of LaVergne, Ben Youngs and his wife Shareen of San Antonio, TX, and Mitchell and Mattie McClaran of Smyrna; and great-grandchildren, Nathan, Mariah, Allison, Sydney, and Paisley Youngs.

Mr. McClaran was a member of Highland Heights Church of Christ. He was a 1942 graduate of Central High School. He was a proud veteran of World War II having served in the Army Air Corps in both the European and Asian Theatres and was awarded the Bronze Star. Mr. McClaran received a double Bachelors degree in both Math and Chemistry in 1950. He was a retired Chemist with the TN Department of Agriculture. Mr. McClaran enjoyed reciting poetry. He also loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and all that nature had to offer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and will be greatly missed by all those that knew him.

Steve McClaran, Tim McClaran, Jeff Youngs, Ben Youngs, Mike Lewis and Mitchell McClaran will serve as pallbearers. The elders, deacons and ministers of Highland Heights Church of Christ along with Jere Whitman, Paul Johns, Glenn Foutch, Brice Winfree, Jack Boone, Maryland Smith, Charlie Hesson, Robert Yokely, Marion McClaran, Charles Comstock and Eugene Tidwell will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials in memory of Mr. McClaran can be made to the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Fund at 410 Allied Drive Nashville, TN 37211, the Happy Haven Children's Home 2311 Wakefield Drive Cookeville, TN 38501 or to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675.

Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna.