Mariwyn Faith McClain Smith, age 81, died June 6, 2018, at Cortland Acres in Thomas, WV. She died surrounded by her children.
Born April 17, 1937, in Morgantown, WV, she was the second of three children of the late R. Kenneth and C. Faith Reynolds McClain of Parsons and Zephyrhills, FL. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Dr. Edward F. McClain of Madison, WI, and her husband of 57 years, George A. Smith, Jr.
On June 4, 1960, at Parsons Presbyterian Church she was married to George Adrain Smith, Jr., only son of the late George A. and Victoria Crawford Smith of Catskill, NY.
Survivors include her children: Kenneth Edward (wife Bonnie Swyter) of Parsons, WV, Barbara Smith Broaddus Plumley (husband Carl) of Germantown, MD, and Faith Smith Robinson (husband Ken) of Enterprise, AL; six grandchildren: Sarah Smith Roberts (husband Ryan), Elijah Broaddus (husband Tim Ebron), Elizabeth Smith Dobrinski (husband Alex), Quinn Broaddus, Katelynn Robinson, and Brandy Hipp Nakamura (husband Yoshi); and seven great-grandchildren: Isaac, Owen and Connor Roberts, Yusho, Shoya, and Manna Nakamura, and Lillian Nguyen; a sister Rachel McClain Wright, and a sister-in-law, Linda Smith Stewart (husband Jim).
Mariwyn was a 1955 graduate of Parsons High School and a 1959 graduate of Davis & Elkins College. She was the editor of the Parsons Advocate from 1971 to 2004. She and her husband George were also owners of The Preston County News in the early 1960s before moving to Parsons. She was also an officer of McClain Printing Company for many years.
Mariwyn was a life-long member of the Parsons Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder, pianist, and historian. She was the youth and adult choir director there for more than 20 years. She was a founding member of the Tucker Community Foundation and board member for many years. Mariwyn was the 1989 Tucker County Chamber of Commerce “Tuckineer” (the first woman to be so honored). Between 1992-1993, she was the president of the WV Press Association and the first person to be the third family member to do so. Mariwyn was the author of five books published by McClain Printing Company, which was founded by her father Ken McClain. Those books include: a 1974 publication of …and live forever — a biography of 150 Tucker Countians, 80 years of age or older; a 1991 publication ofCakes…Cakes…and more Cakes, a cookbook; a 1992 publication of Mom’s Every Month Calendar; a 1996 publication of A Family Vacation in Tucker County, a children’s history and coloring book; and a 1997 publication of Casseroles, Meats and Fish…Cookies. While editor of the Parsons Advocate Mariwyn had a column entitled “Merry Wind”. Most of the recipes in her books were published in this column.
Other accomplishments include the following: She was the treasurer for the Tucker County Branch of The American Association of University Women from 1980-1992; president of The Tucker County Chamber of Commerce from 1986-1987; 1989 WV Business Woman of the Year awarded by the WV Commission on Women; charter member of the Tucker Community Chorus, beginning in 1989 until she was no longer able to sing; president of the Tucker County Arts Council from 1991-1992 and the vice president from 1992-1993; member of the Site Committee for Tucker Valley Elementary/Middle School from 1992-1993; member of the Task Force on Drug Awareness for Tucker County Schools from 1993-2002; member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition for the Tucker County Schools in 1992-1993; member of the OH-WV YMCA and Department of Education’s School Community for the School Based Learning Advisory Committee; 1996-1997 WV Read Aloud volunteer for Tucker Valley Middle/Elementary Schools for the fifth grade; and a life-long member of the Alpine Heritage Preservation, Inc. One of her favorite accomplishments was the organization of the Parsons Women’s Investment Club with the help of the deceased Cleta Long in 1997. She was also a member of the Parsons High School Alumni Association, D&E College Alumni, River City Garden Club (former) member, and Tucker County Vocational Education General Advisory Council. In 2006, she and her husband George were awarded the B. B, Maurer WV Folklife Scholar Award on behalf of McClain Printing Company in Parsons, WV. In 2008, she was awarded the WV Grantmakers’ “Spirit of Philanthropy Award”.
She spent many of her last years devoted to the memory of her ancestors while making scrapbooks for relatives. From 2000-2001, she devoted many months to transcribing handwritten letters to Duncan and Agnes McInnes, her great-great-grandparents who immigrated from Scotland. The approximately 60 letters are from family still living in Scotland. During that same time she initiated a group of women to write an index to the obituaries which have appeared in The Parsons Advocatefrom 1896 to approximately 2002. That collection is now available at Five Rivers Public Library in Parsons, WV.
Mariwyn enjoyed writing, sewing, quilting, reading, entertaining, playing the piano, singing, reunions and traveling.
Mariwyn’s life can be honored through the Tucker Community Foundation (McClain Fund – for the Five River Public Library), (The Parsons Presbyterian Fund), or (The Director’s General Fund). Hinkle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
