My dad is in a better place...Thanks for the paryers. Jmax

[Jmax]

This morning central time my father, Lt. Com. Jim D McClanahan, Rt., passed away at 10:56 a.m.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts everyone, he is in a better place. He never regained consciousness after falling asleep Friday night, he went into a deep coma and his body just shut down. That would be a good way to go.

My dad had three loves in his life, God, Country and Family. He lived it to support his three loves. Good Christian man, always doing his best to live a good Christian life. He served his country for 21 years in the Navy. Retired with honors, then went back to school and received a college degree in Management. Took up another whole new career but still serving his country as a weapon's designer and manufacturer with General Dynamics. He was one of the people who designed and was instrumental in the Phalanx Missiles systems which today are still in use on most of the American defense ships. He retired from there after 19 years when they closed the plant in Camden AR.

He taught me about the love of the outdoors, the appreciation you get from being on a stand first thing in the morning watching mother nature come alive while deer hunting. Ducks coming in over the decoys out in the Arkansas bottoms. The fog lifting off the lake while bass fishing in the summer out on the water. He was a very good man, I will be forever be grateful to him, he will be missed. Jmax

 

[takenoprisoners]

So sorry for your loss, but rejoice with you that he will suffer no more and that he leaves so many great memories behind.

 

[SethColeman]

Sorry for your loss Jim. Stay strong bud.

 

[rsimms]

Condolences to the family... it does sound like he went peacefully. Best wishes to you and the family during some difficult days ahead.

 

[Jmax]

I will tell a story about my dad and I for anyone with the time to read it.

I do not remember the exact year but it was in the 70s I think. One of the worst ice storms Arkansas had ever seen. I was in High School and we lived in south Arkansas at Camden. The ice was so thick that many trees, power lines and building were falling and collapsing. The National Guard was called out and they were telling everyone to stay indoors and not to get out unless it was an emergency. Many people were without power and it was a huge mess.

My dad walks up to me with one of those grins you have to see to understand. He said, "Jimbo, you want to go duck hunting in the morning?" I thought he was joking. Nope, he then went on to say how all the rice fields would be froze up and the ducks would be looking for open water. He said he just knew that the Bayou Meto bottoms would still be open and ducks would be falling in there like rain. emoTongue I told him I was in and we loaded up. All the stuff went into our Ford Maverick. Yes, not four wheel drive, not even front wheel drive, but a two wheel rear drive Ford Maverick. Decoys, waders, guns, shells,...the works were all loaded that night for the next day's adventure.

That morning we got up a couple hours early and off we went, sliding and spinning from Camden AR to Bayou Meto management area which was a good hour and a half away on a good day. He did put chains on the back tires so we did have some traction. We slid and spun our way to Monticello AR where we encountered the National Guard blocking up all the roads. The guy told us to turn around and no one was allowed into that area. My dad who is not one to take no for an answer got out and found the highest ranking person in charge he could find. At which time he told him he was a retire Lt. Commander and was going duck hunting. The guy I remembered looked at us like we were nuts and then laughed. He said if we had just drove an hour from Camden in all this mess he had no doubt we could drive the rest of the way. He ordered the guys to let us pass. emoLaugh

You might think my dad might be a little worried. But nope, he just kept on talking about how there would surely be no other people hunting that day and we would have it all to ourselves. emoRolleyes Considering we had not seen another person or vehicle the whole time except the National Guard and emergency people I thought he had a good point. Finally got to the Management Area and like my dad had thought, not another person in sight. We put on all our hunting stuff, loaded the decoys onto our backs and off we went trucking into the swamp. We broke ice for the first couple hundred yards but then it opened up. You could hear the ducks...thousands....calling and getting up as we waded through the water. Reaching one of our pot holes in the flooded woods we quickly as we could spread out our decoys. It was already shooting light and we started to call.

Just like my dad had guess, the ducks started coming in like I have never seen to this day. Thousands of ducks filled the sky, you could be shooting at one group while another hit the water behind you. That year you could kill four mallards each. My dad told me, "Drakes only today, no need to shoot a hen." It was by far one of the best duck trips I have ever had. We had our four drakes each and even got a couple bonus pintails. There were so many ducks it took only about thirty minutes to get our limit. We were having such a good time we stopped calling after we limited out and just let them fall in on us. The water all around us filled up with ducks. We just froze up against the trees and watched them. I could have reached out and grabbed them they were so close. emoEek

We watched ducks for about an hour and picked up to head back. It was just like he had said. One of the most unreal duck hunts I had and still have ever experienced. We slid and spun our way all the way back to Camden. My mom thought we were nuts too, I think we have talked about that hunt more times then I can remember. By far one of the most special father and son outings in my lifetime. emoAngel Jmax

 

[ddxlesd]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. Thankful he had a peaceful journey from this world to his eternal home.
Thanks for sharing the story. Ducks were my first love, ahead of Bass, Crappie and Deer, till we got so darn old that we can't take the cold anymore. Ever notice you don't see many old duck hunters? Your story is a great reminder that we need to be making those memories with our children and grandchildren! You and Your Family are in our prayers.

 

[Bprice]

Sorry to hear bout your loss Jmax. Seems like a great man.

 

[churly]

Sounds like he lived a terrific life. Sorry to hear this.

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for the duck story. It is a very wise man who recognizes when Mother Nature throws out an opportunity, and isn't afraid to act on it... even in a Ford Maverick! emoEek emoWorthy emoThumbsup

 

[BulletTJ]

Jmax thanks for sharing the story. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Your Dad sounds like a great man. Hang on to those memories.

 

[2jigs]

Great story! Glad to see your looking at what you have not what you don't. That's a great attitudes & sounds like the one he would have taken also. Stay strong, prayers sent.

 

[elwestb]

Sorry to hear about your loss Jim. He sounds like a really great man and American Vet. We need more!

 

[procraft]

sorry for your loss

 

[Oldman]

so sorry man.

 

[Justfishin]

sorry for your loss but times like that you will always have sounds like a great man

 

[TR20bh]

Jim, My prayers are with you & your family! So grateful your dad's suffering is over! He is in the presence of his Lord, Jesus now! That is something to rejoice in! I know the memories you have with him will last til you see him again!!

 

[Mike Hernandez]

Sending our deepest sympathies for your loss. Sounds like y'all made a lifetime of great memories. God bless. emoAngel

 

[BassERT]

Jmax
Sincere condolences on your loss
Thank God we have living memories!

emoCool

 

[da83moon]

Jim you and your family are I thoughts and prayers.

 

[yellburt]

<font color="#3300ff"><font size="4"><font face="courier new,courier">great story jim..thanks for sharing..sounds like a story that will live on.... emoUSA
</font></font></font>