Jaclynn Sue "Jackie" McLain was born on 19 April, 1952 in Kansas City, Mo. Her parents were John W. and JoAnne McLain who lived at 9801 Woodson Dr. when Jackie graduated in 1970. She had an older brother, Michael, who probably graduated in 1967.
Jackie attended Kansas State and was an Elmentary Education major. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta.
She married a man with the last name of Collett and had a daughter.
Jackie passed away at age 30 on 16 August 1982.
PLEASE! If you have more information about her life post it here. If this is not accurate, please post a correction.
Jackie was one of my dearest friends from the age of nine years old. We both went to Overland Park Christian Church, where her parents Jack and Joanne McLain, were friends of my parents, Jack and Margo Brown. Both sets of parents were excellent role models for us, and taught us through their actions. Jack McLain owned McLain's Bakery, and he rose at 3:30 daily to go to the bakery. About 8 years ago, I was taking my grandson to pre-baptism classes at the church, and I saw Jack and Mike McLain leaving after church. I yelled to Jack, "Hey it's Mindy Brown! How are you doing?" He turned around as he was getting in the car and replied with a laugh, "I may be really old, but I am not stupid! I know who you are." We all laughed about that.
Jackie and I worked together at Putsch's Cafeteria as our first "real" job for about 1.5 years. We worked on the desserts and salads. If a piece of pie got messed up or squished, we were allowed to eat it on break, so we would pick the ones we wanted at the beginning of the shift "to get messed up." We always laughed so hard about that. We actually started dating people that year 1968-1969 and went on many double dates.
After graduation in 1970, both Jackie and I were able to travel to Europe with a group of 10 teens and 7 chaperones. We were able to travel for three weeks for $600. That included all air and bus fares, food and lodging. We went to England, The Netherlands, East & West Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, Romania, Russia, Denmark, and Switzerland. In retrospect, it was a little sketchy traveling to Communist countries. We attended the Bolshoi Ballet, the Passion Play at Oberammergau Germany, rode a cog train up a huge mountain near Lucerne. We attended the Economic Exposition in Moscow, where the Russian space program was highlighted. Jackie and I were able to enjoy some rich experiences. Our favorite was Romania, because our chaperones basically let us be for 4 days. We met some young Romanians who basically started talking to us in an open air cafe. We learned all about Bucharest by traveling around the city by bus with them.
Tragically, Jackie started feeling ill while we were traveling in Europe. Medical experts could not figurre it out for several years, but she was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis in about 1972. Valiently and courageously, Jackie continued attending Kansas State, where she met Randy Collett. They married and she had a daughter in 1975. This terrible illness took a toll on her whole family, but Jackie never lost her sense of humor. The last few years, she had to write her thoughts, because she could not speak. After I had my daughter, Danielle in 1981, I went to see her in the facility in which she lived. She laughed about how dirty diapers were not fun.
I think of Jackie often and miss her. We shared so much as young people and she passed away so very young. She was amazingly sweet, courageous, beautiful, and generous. I remember that she loved yellow roses. Her final resting place is Johnson County Memorial Gardens at College Boulevard and Metcalf. She really did not get to experience adulthood, but she was a brave example for my life. Godspeed Jackie. You are still loved by many.
I am saddened by the story of Jackie's life after graduation. We had several classes together. The one I remember the most was choir when we were seniors. How awful that she had a daughter and didn't get to see her grow up. Thank you for sharing your memories, Melinda. I'm glad the two of you had a wonderful post-graduation trip!
John Varner
Jaclynn Sue "Jackie" McLain was born on 19 April, 1952 in Kansas City, Mo. Her parents were John W. and JoAnne McLain who lived at 9801 Woodson Dr. when Jackie graduated in 1970. She had an older brother, Michael, who probably graduated in 1967.
Jackie attended Kansas State and was an Elmentary Education major. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta.
She married a man with the last name of Collett and had a daughter.
Jackie passed away at age 30 on 16 August 1982.
PLEASE! If you have more information about her life post it here. If this is not accurate, please post a correction.
Melinda Brown (Lee)
Hello SMS Raiders of 1970.
Jackie was one of my dearest friends from the age of nine years old. We both went to Overland Park Christian Church, where her parents Jack and Joanne McLain, were friends of my parents, Jack and Margo Brown. Both sets of parents were excellent role models for us, and taught us through their actions. Jack McLain owned McLain's Bakery, and he rose at 3:30 daily to go to the bakery. About 8 years ago, I was taking my grandson to pre-baptism classes at the church, and I saw Jack and Mike McLain leaving after church. I yelled to Jack, "Hey it's Mindy Brown! How are you doing?" He turned around as he was getting in the car and replied with a laugh, "I may be really old, but I am not stupid! I know who you are." We all laughed about that.
Jackie and I worked together at Putsch's Cafeteria as our first "real" job for about 1.5 years. We worked on the desserts and salads. If a piece of pie got messed up or squished, we were allowed to eat it on break, so we would pick the ones we wanted at the beginning of the shift "to get messed up." We always laughed so hard about that. We actually started dating people that year 1968-1969 and went on many double dates.
After graduation in 1970, both Jackie and I were able to travel to Europe with a group of 10 teens and 7 chaperones. We were able to travel for three weeks for $600. That included all air and bus fares, food and lodging. We went to England, The Netherlands, East & West Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, Romania, Russia, Denmark, and Switzerland. In retrospect, it was a little sketchy traveling to Communist countries. We attended the Bolshoi Ballet, the Passion Play at Oberammergau Germany, rode a cog train up a huge mountain near Lucerne. We attended the Economic Exposition in Moscow, where the Russian space program was highlighted. Jackie and I were able to enjoy some rich experiences. Our favorite was Romania, because our chaperones basically let us be for 4 days. We met some young Romanians who basically started talking to us in an open air cafe. We learned all about Bucharest by traveling around the city by bus with them.
Tragically, Jackie started feeling ill while we were traveling in Europe. Medical experts could not figurre it out for several years, but she was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis in about 1972. Valiently and courageously, Jackie continued attending Kansas State, where she met Randy Collett. They married and she had a daughter in 1975. This terrible illness took a toll on her whole family, but Jackie never lost her sense of humor. The last few years, she had to write her thoughts, because she could not speak. After I had my daughter, Danielle in 1981, I went to see her in the facility in which she lived. She laughed about how dirty diapers were not fun.
I think of Jackie often and miss her. We shared so much as young people and she passed away so very young. She was amazingly sweet, courageous, beautiful, and generous. I remember that she loved yellow roses. Her final resting place is Johnson County Memorial Gardens at College Boulevard and Metcalf. She really did not get to experience adulthood, but she was a brave example for my life. Godspeed Jackie. You are still loved by many.
Madelyn Hastings
I am saddened by the story of Jackie's life after graduation. We had several classes together. The one I remember the most was choir when we were seniors. How awful that she had a daughter and didn't get to see her grow up. Thank you for sharing your memories, Melinda. I'm glad the two of you had a wonderful post-graduation trip!