Jacqueline Snyder Mclain

Jacqueline Snyder McLain passed away on Sunday, August 27 at 97 years of age as she sat peacefully in her chair waiting for her ride to church. She sat overlooking Lake Cable and her gardens that had provided her so much beauty and appreciation for nature these past months. Always an exceptionally regarded woman and well known as the “hat lady” for the beautifully adorned hats she wore when dressed up—she died in a manner befitting her life—always ready for the next adventure.

Jacquie was born on January 5, 1926, the third of four beautiful daughters born to Ralph and Thelma Snyder of Massillon, Ohio. She had a deep, distinctive voice and often kidded that she was the “son” her parents never had. Most of her youth was spent in Toledo, Ohio where her father had transferred. In her senior year of high school, the family returned to Massillon, and she graduated from Washington High School in 1944. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert Wales McLain. Bob left for the war and then college and Jacquie went on to become an RN and work as a nurse and instructor at Mercy Hospital in Canton. They reunited and married in 1950 and went on to have five children. Once her children got older, Jacquie returned to her nursing career, working for many years as an intensive care nurse at Massillon Community Hospital. She chose to work the hospital’s night shift so that she would never miss out on seeing her children off to school in the morning and to their activities in the afternoon and evening.

Jacquie’s interests and involvements were so widespread and diverse that it is difficult to mention them all here—but each of them added to the lore of her personality that endeared her to her children and grandchildren. She was known for her enormous energy that ensured she’d be the last to bed and the first one up on each visit. She was athletic and loved to compete in golf (including two holes in one), bowling, figure skating and any other sport someone wanted to try. She loved going to watch others compete—whether it was The Massillon Tigers, LeBron James and the Cavaliers, or Arnold Palmer and the Masters. She kept her TV on only for sporting events and the news. She kept in shape by attending gyms regularly. In this, her 97th year, the Jackson YMCA saw her there on almost a daily basis at 5:30 AM exercising or taking classes.

Jacquie was an accomplished gardener and loved growing and arranging flowers. She also loved to cook and bake amazing birthday cakes for her children and grandchildren. Dinners and entertaining at her home by the lake sustained her and gave her an opportunity to talk for hours (a trait she was quite well known for). Jacquie prided herself on being able to manage her own household and finances and subscribed to financial journals for years. She loved being considered an “independent woman.”

Jacquie was predeceased by her husband, Bob, former president of McLain Grocery Company in 2009 and her eldest son, Robert McLain, a well-known Canton businessman who died of cancer in 2014. She is survived by her daughters, Gretchen Larman of Maine, Susan Friedman (Peter) of Connecticut, sons David McLain (Jamie) of New Jersey and Stephen McLain (Diane) of Massillon. In addition, she is beloved by all her grandchildren, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will hold visiting hours on Tuesday evening, September 5, 2023, from 4:30-6:00 at Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon. A memorial service will be held for Jacquie at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Massillon on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 2:00 PM. A private family burial will be held following the service at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Massillon.

Jacquie’s children would like to express their deep gratitude to the excellent care and compassion shown to her in recent months by Canton Visiting Angels. The Massillon Woman’s Club (210 Fourth St. NE, Massillon, Ohio 44646) was especially close to Jacquie’s heart, and she was a lifelong supporter. In lieu of flowers, contributions to this organization would be appreciated. If you would like to contribute to The Massillon Woman's Club please call 330-833-4896. To share a memory of Jacquie or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.paquelet.com.