Merline Plunkett McLain, M.D., 82, of Fayetteville, GA passed away March 7, 2011 at her daughter’s home. Merline was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Maurice McLain, M.D., a brother, L.J. Plunkett, Jr., M.D, and a sister, Mary Lou Myers.
The daughter of Littleton James and Mable Gardner Plunkett, Merline was born October 4, 1928, in Henderson, TX. She attended Kilgore Junior Collegewhere she was a member of the Rangerettes Drill Team, then transferred to Stephen F. Austin State College, graduating in 1949 with a B.S. in biology. Merline and her husband lived for many years in Poplar Bluff, MO where they raised their two daughters. She returned to school at the age of 50, to fulfill her desire to become a physician. She attended the American University of the Caribbean in Plymouth, Montserrat, British West Indies, and received her medical degree from Universidad C.E.T.E.C. in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1982. Dr. McLain performed her residency at Henry Ford Hospitalin Detroit, MI and interned in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. McLain spent 25 years practicing as a psychiatrist. She held licenses in Georgia, Indiana,Arizona, Wyoming, and Michigan. She spent the past 10 years working at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta, GA where she retired at the age of 79. Dr. McLain loved her work, was admired by her co-workers and was dedicated to providing compassionate care to her patients. She will be dearly missed by her family and all of those whose lives she touched over the years, both within the family and throughout her life as a physician.
Although she enjoyed her work, Dr. McLain was most proud of her family. She is survived by two daughters: Becky Merrill (husband Dave) of O’Fallon, IL and Beth Murray (husband Vince) of Fayetteville, GA. Merline also had six grandchildren: Jessica Walker (husband Chris) of Russellville, AR; David Merrill (wife Kara) of The Woodlands, TX; Brian Kase (wife Tracy) of Cartersville, GA; Adam Kase (wife Laura) of Rome, GA; Angela Murray of Athens,GA; Christopher Murray, currently attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Merline is also survived by two great grandchildren: Kaitlin and Annabelle Walker of Russellville, AR and one brother, Davis Lynn Plunkett (wife Linda) of Lubbock, TX.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Mowell Funeral Home, 180 N. Jeff Davis, Dr., Fayetteville, GA. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m and funeral service will begin at 5:00 p.m. A gift in memory of Dr. McLain may be given to Sacred Journey Hospice Foundation, 136 Peach Drive,McDonough, GA 30253.
Carl J. Mowell & Son, Fayetteville www.mowellfuneralhome.com
