Jimmy Wayne McClung

Jimmy Wayne McClung — Sailor, pilot, genealogist, longtime newspaper reporter, avid wildlife and bird photographer, loving husband, dedicated father, and loyal friend — was born June 14, 1941, in a small home in Henrietta, Texas, and passed away on July 16, 2025. He was the second of three sons born to Edward Zelma Van “Rip” McClung and Berta Mae Vandiver, both of the Pleasant Grove Community in Wise County, Texas. Jimmy spent his early years in Texas, attending schools in Chico, Denton, and Commerce, before graduating from Central High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1959. In August 1960, he enlisted in the United States Air Force at Fresno, California. His service took him to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa and Vandenberg AFB in California. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1964. Jimmy returned to Modesto in 1965, where he began a 25-year journalism career with The Modesto Bee and McClatchy Newspapers of Sacramento. He married his first wife, now Helen Crowley, with which he had two children, Jay and Piper. In 1980, he privately published The McClung Family of Wise County, Texas, a detailed genealogical account of his lineage. In 1990, he took early retirement, setting sail aboard Distant Drum, his cutter-rigged sloop, on a journey from Alameda, California, to Florida. His passion for sailing, travel, and family defined the next chapter of his life, taking him to places such as Brazil; Hungary; Clearwater, Florida; Weymouth, Massachusetts; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Rock Hill, South Carolina; and finally, Farragut, Tennessee. There, he reunited with and married his high school classmate, Dianne Siner Gustin. Together, they shared many joyful years with their beloved dog, Holly. Jimmy is survived by his wife, Dianne Siner Gustin; his son, Jay McClung, and daughter-in-law Brooke of O’Fallon, Missouri; his daughter, Piper Reardon, and son-in-law Joe of Indian Trail, North Carolina. He was grandfather to Isabella, Luke, Max, and Grace McClung of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Jake and Justin Reardon of Indian Trail, North Carolina; and Noah Brooks of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by his brother, Robert, and nieces Alex, Kristin, Kellie, Samantha, and nephew Tim Jenkins, all in California; the Carbaugh family of Farragut, Tennessee; the Nasvall family of Murfreesboro, TN; the Siner families of Frederick, Maryland and Greencastle, Pennsylvania; the Rodriguez family of Reading, Pennsylvania; and the Woolcock family of Creekmore, North Carolina. Jim leaves behind a circle of dear friends and extended family who will remember his extraordinary life — a life marked by generosity, kindness, deep commitment to family, a lifelong love of learning, and an adventurous spirit. He was preceded in death by his older brother, F. Milton McClung. Cremation was conducted according to his wishes. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation that benefits the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of Jim’s favorite photographic venues, Cades Cove, Tennessee, https://friendsofthesmokies.org/make-a-gift/.

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Jimmy Wayne McClung

June 14, 1941 - July 16, 2025