This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Gary E. McLean. Gary Elwood McLean, 84, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, passed away on May 14th, 2021 at approximately 3:42pm at Mary Washington Hospital.

Services will be held for Gary E. McLean will be held at Quantico National Cemetary. Minister Ruth Ann Mulhbauer of Calvary Hill Baptist Church will be officiating. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Covenant Funeral Service. 

Gary was born in 1937 in Palmerton, Pennsylvania on March 28th. He graduated from Tamaqua High school in 1954. He joined the Navy in 1954 and entered the Navy School of Music. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1958. After he left the Navy, he moved to Washington D.C. and began taking classes in Music at a local college, and after 2 years he moved to Hazelton, Pennsylvania to attend a printing trade school. He graduated 2 years later. After trade school Gary moved back to the Washington D.C. area where he started working at the Government Printing Office (GPO). He also played the trumpet in a local band called “The Naturals” for several years. In 1974, Gary met, and married Mary Ann. They lived in Maryland and had 6 children together. They were married for 17 years.

Gary married Elke on December 15, 2007 and they were married 13 years. Gary and Elke met in 2001 at the VFW in Waldorf, Maryland where they both liked to go dancing every Friday night. Gary and Elke continued to see each other every Friday night at the VFW where they would dance and have drinks. They continued to meet like this for a while, but they did not solidify their relationship until many months later when Gary ran into Elke at Elks Lodge. When Gary saw Elke, he ran up to her grabbed her hand and said “I lost you once and I’m not gonna lose you again”. From that day forward Gary and Elke were an item and dated for another 6 years before they were married.

Gary worked as a proofreader and printing and procurement specialist for the Government Printing Office (GPO) in Washington D.C, and The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Gary retired from The National Institute of Health. Gary enjoyed playing his trumpet, dancing, traveling, playing cards, gambling, and watching his favorite shows NCIS, Blue Bloods, and GSN. He was an avid sports enthusiast and a long-time fan of the Washington Redskins. He loved watching all types of college sports, but mostly football and basketball. He played horns (trumpet & trombone) in the Southern Maryland Concert Band, as well as the Mary Washington Concert Band, and occasionally played taps at funerals across the DC/MD/VA.

Gary is survived by his wife Elke E. McLean, his children Victoria (Danny) Moran, Kimberly (Tim) Hachana, Scott (Donna) McLean, Matthew (Christine) McLean, his stepchildren Werner (Russhe) Riemer and Ursula (Mallie) Stevens, sister-in-law Dagmar (Eddie) Yo, and his ex-wife Mary Ann Tallent. He is also survived by his 16 grandchildren Jonathon, Justin, Brandon, Brittany (Joseph) Tuck, Cassandra (Benjamin) Tuck, Noah, Braiden, Alexander, Campbell, Davis, Ella, Emma, Weston, McKenna, Madelyn, Ava; and his 3 great grandchildren Summer, Iliana, and Analise.

Gary is preceded in death by his two older sons, Michael and Stephen, and his parents Walter and Mildred McLean.

The family of Gary E. McLean wished to thank the caring and compassionate staff from Home & Heart Health Inc. and Capitol Caring Health and Hospice Service. In leiu of flowers the family has requested that donations in his name can be made to the following organization;  American Heart Assiciation at  https://www.heart.org/?form=FUNMWNYNCJE     and/or  The Music and Memory Organization at https://musicandmemory.org/donate/