Our dad, Leon McMann, was born on Feb. 22, 1931, to Charlie and Alma McMann. He was followed by two sisters, Jeanette Ward and Emma Jane Sterling. He was born on Tangier Island and remained there until this past Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, when he went home to be with the Lord.
Mom would often say that they fell in love with each other in the seventh grade, never even dating anyone else, and on June 5, 1950, they were married. Their children: Carlene, Nick, Irene, and Carolyn, grew up in a home that knew so much love. Twenty-five grandkids and great-grandkids would follow. For the past 15 years, even after mom died, we have met at their home for a Sunday lunch after church, whether there were eight of us or all of us. Mom made us promise to continue this when she died. We will miss that, it kept us tied to each other, connected.
When Mom passed away from cancer in 2011, it was very hard on Dad. We had learned from both of them how important family was, and from Mom’s death on, every day, Dad took turns eating supper with his children.
Dad was a part of a group of men, young and old, that had started meeting in a place most of us referred to as the “Old Men’s Place.” They would meet twice a day and try to solve the world’s problems. They had a coffee pot, chairs, and plenty of opinions. Eventually it was referred to as the “Situation Room,” and Dad developed strong and lasting friendships with these men. Many times, reporters looking for a good story would often end up there and sit in on their conversations.
To our surprise, after 75 years of working on the water, Dad decided to retire. It was such a shock to us because Leon McMann loved being a waterman. Starting at the age of 14, he would travel with men who would take their boats to Baltimore, Md., picking up watermelons, and all kinds of stuff to sell back home on Tangier. Dad worked just as hard at 25 as he did at 89, whether it was scraping, crab potting, clamming, oystering, or even working on fish steamers, he gave 100%. His good and honest work ethic is well known.
Dad and Mom had a great life together. It was filled with heartaches and struggles like everyone else’s but early on in their life together, they became Christians. Their lives were filled with teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, singing with each other, and working with missions. Dad loved going on mission trips with many of the men in that Situation Room. Florida, Mississippi, and West Virginia, were a few of the places he went.
Dad and Mom had given us a life too rich for words, but they also prepared us for the next life. They knew and believed that Jesus was coming again and eternal life was theirs. Heaven was a very real place for them, and Dad knew Mom was waiting for him. Last Thursday, when he breathed out that last breath in that bed, leaving us…, his next breath would take him in the very presence of God.
He would see Mom, I couldn’t help but think about her…surely a celebration takes place when someone comes home…did she know who the party was for….when do you think God told her that it was for Dad…He was on his way…
A Celebration of the Life of Leon McMann will be held at a later date on Tangier Island.
