Clair L. McCord

Clair L. McCord, age 78, of New Philadelphia, died Monday, July 20, 2009, in Union Hospital at Dover following a brief illness.Born at Rew, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1931, to the late Harry and Lena (Dunn) McCord; Clair was the youngest of five sons.Clair was a graduate of Bradford Sr. High School, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Class of 1949. He continued his formal education at the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1954.Clair served as a Medical-Aid Man in the United States Army’s “Big Red One” stationed in Germany. He then returned to civilian life as a pharmacist and would continue in his chosen profession for over 40 years until his retirement in 1998. During his career, Clair would care for and interact with area families at the former Gray Drug Store at Dover and then Marlowe’s Pharmacy for twenty five years. He then became a part of the Union Hospital Pharmacy Team and worked there until his retirement. Clair loved interaction with people and enjoyed watching each new generation of the families he cared for.Growing up in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Clair enjoyed taking long walks in the woods and often photographing nature at its finest. He also was an avid gardener cultivating a wide variety of plants and flowers including his favorite species of Iris.Clair was an eternal student who loved to learn. He had an interest in many activities from photography, sculpture and artwork; learning to operate a ham radio and speaking other languages, as well as learning to use a computer from its early inception. As a matter of fact, at the age of 72 he learned to cook and would spend countless hours researching new recipes and perfecting their taste with the ingredients he used.Clair also had a love of music and learned to play the upright bass. For a number of years he was an active instrumentalist and member of the board of trustees for the Tuscarawas County Philharmonic.Traveling was also one of the many interests that Clair enjoyed sharing with his family. He loved to spend time with his blended family and made sure that each outing became an adventure.Clair leaves behind his loving family that includes his wife of twenty eight years, Linda McCord of New Philadelphia; children, Jeff (Sue) McCord of Orient, Ohio, Beth McCord of Westerville, Ohio, Kristin (Michael) Noonan of Ballston Spa, New York, Gretchen Uschold of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and George (Shannon) Uschold of Jacksonville, Florida; a brother, Donald McCord of Clarion, Pennsylvania; and a sister-in-law, Freida McCord of Eden, New York.Four grandchildren, Ensign Scott (Jennifer) Tedrick of Honolulu, Hawaii, who is currently serving aboard the USS Louisville, Sara Tedrick of Lafayette, Indiana, Anneliese and Lorelei Uschold of Jacksonville, Florida; as well as two great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Cody Tedrick complete the family. In addition to his parents, Clair was preceded in death by a daughter, Stephanie Tedrick, and brothers, Kenneth McCord, Lione McCord and Richard McCord.The family will receive friends in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover on Friday, July 24, 2009, from 5:00 Â? 8:00 PM. In keeping with Clair’s wishes he will be cremated through the care of Geib’s Tuscarawas Valley Crematory at Dover. The family request memorial contributions in Clair’s name be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W. 3rd Street, Dover, Ohio 44622, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.