Herbert Evans McLean, Sr.

Herbert Evans McLean, Sr., 87 died on October 25, 2016 in Layton, Utah. Born in Oakland, California to Arthur Lawrence McLean and Florence Catharine Daniels, and raised in Berkeley and Walnut Creek, California.

He attended the University of California at Berkeley, BA (1952); Brigham Young University, MA (1978). Following graduation from Acalanes High school in Lafayette, California, he hitchhiked alone to Alaska. That state became a focal point of the rest of his life.

He married Maurine Lee Rucker, December 22, 1951. They were later sealed on March 12, 1960 in the Los Angeles temple by Benjamin L. Bowring.

Herb's career comprised many aspects of the field of communications. He was a newspaper editor; high school teacher and yearbook advisor; corporate communication director; advertising agency founder and president; consultant to BYU Centennial in 1976; magazine writer, tour director and instructor at BYU. He created OMS–Operation Midnight Sun, a group experience for BYU student writers as they travelled through Alaska.

He worked many days every summer to maintain and upgrade the family cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It now serves as a beloved retreat for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His children are grateful that he instilled in them a love of nature and the outdoors.

His talents were many and worked together to make a success of everything he tried. He was tenacious, driven, passionate about his projects and seldom doubted he could carry them off.

He loved serving others and even while bedridden and suffering from advanced dementia, prayed for opportunities to help others. In his later years he enjoyed working in his wood shop, especially with weathered and aged items. Here he created an amazing museum he called the "Memory Loft" where he displayed hundreds of fascinating finds from his explorations.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many callings. He had a great love of the Gospel and the LDS church. He was dearly loved by a devoted family and returned their love with all his heart. His 64 1/2-year marriage to wife Maurine was the joy of both their lives. His last words to all of us were "I love you, love you, love you”.

Predeceased by one daughter, Deborah Maurine, and one grandchild, Kimberly Joye Meyers. Survived by wife Maurine Rucker McLean and five children: Herbert (Lynne) Evans McLean, Jr., Tamara (David) Leifson, Melinda (Kenneth) Meyers, Lucinda (Steven) Carlson and Rebecca (Stephen) Simmons; 24 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Summerwood Ward meeting house, 1410 East Gentile Street, Layton, Utah. There will be a visitation from 9:00-9:45 a.m. prior to services.

Military honors and interment will follow the funeral at the Spanish Fork Cemetery, Spanish Fork at 1:00 p.m.