Dr. Johnnie Wayne McClinton

Dr. Johnnie W. McClinton crossed over to sit at the feet of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from Coolidge, Texas on November 23, 2022.  He was 83 years of age.  Johnnie was an organ donor with cremation to follow.  A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Coolidge with Reverend Chuck Sturgeon and Reverend Preston Sanders officiating.  Visitation with the family will be prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.  A private interment will follow in the Coolidge Cemetery.

Johnnie is survived by his children, Jay John McClinton of Coolidge and Lee John McClinton of Raytown MO; brother and sister-in-law, Wendell and Beverly McClinton of Nashville, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Narciada and Don Shipley of Pineville, LA; brother-in-law, Mack Hancock of Coolidge; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends, both here and in the Kansas City area.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara Lee Bledsoe; grandparents; parents; brother and sister-in-law, Connie and Darlene McClinton; sister, Altha Hancock; many aunts, uncles and several nieces and nephews.

Johnnie was born, the first of twins, to Clyde and Mattie Lou McClinton on December 19, 1938 in Celina, Texas.  After graduating from Coolidge High School, he continued his education receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mathematics, science and education from Baylor University.  He completed his education at the University of Missouri where he received his Doctorate in psychology.

Johnnie was raised in and around Coolidge, taught school most of his adult life and taught Sunday School, lead music and served as a deacon for his church.  He proudly served his country in the US Air Force from 1962 to 1967 as a navigator on the B-52 Bomber in the Vietnam War.

Johnnie loved and adored his Lord, his wife, Barbara Lee Bledsoe, his children, Jay and Lee, his extended family, his church, his church family, his community, and the Air Force.  His greatest desire was that all of his family, friends and the lost of the community would come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Johnnie wanted to be remembered as a servant of the Lord and to share his assurance from 2 Timothy 1:12, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I believe until that day”.

For almost 60 years, Johnnie’s love and dedication to education ranged from elementary to secondary and beyond.  He retired from the Metropolitan Community Colleges in Kansas City, MO, as dean of students and instruction in 2001.  After returning to Coolidge, he became Counselor for Coolidge ISD where his final retirement came in 2022.