Local fashion icon and prominent businesswoman,Earline Bowling McClanhaan, age 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Muscle Shoals, surrounded by her family on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Visitation will take place at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, tonight from 6 to 9. The funeral service will be at Morrison Funeral Home on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 11 a.m. Her pastor, Dr. Jeff Noblit of Grace Life Church, will be officiating the service.
Earline, also known as “Mrs. Mac,” was born on February 1, 1925 in Leighton to Robert M. and Willie A. Bowling. After graduating from Colbert County High School, Earline began working at Sears Department Store, where she met the love of her life, Mac. Together they launched their lifelong career in retail.
In 1965, Mac and Earline opened the Village Shoppe, Inc. in Muscle Shoals. With Earline’s exquisite taste in fashion and Mac’s savvy business knowledge, the Village Shoppe flourished in seven locations across Alabama and South Carolina. The beauty of her merchandise reflected the inward and outward beauty that characterized Earline. However, the shimmering jewelry and exquisite clothing pale in comparison to the beauty of her character and her loving commitment to her faith, her family, and her community. In 2015, the City of Muscle Shoals declared Tuesday, September 8th as “James and Earline McClanahan Day” and she was presented a proclamation recognizing 50 years of retail business.
Known as effortlessly glamorous, she exchanged not just beautiful merchandise, but wisdom with all of her beloved customers, who she considered family. She was a treasured listening ear and comforting smile whose advice was well regarded by many who visited her store. She embodied the strength and drive necessary to be a successful businesswoman, but never abandoned her role as a loving wife, nurturing mother, devoted friend. As the Village Shoppe enters its 54th year of business, Earline’s daughters strive to carry out the legacy that she leaves behind.
She is preceded in death by her cherished husband of 61 years, James C. “Mac” McClanahan Jr.; her parents; her son, Carlton Ray “Coggie” Waldrep; and grandson, James Brent “Jim” Staples.
Earline is survived by her daughters, Kathy Staples (Jack) and Debbie Rinks (Barry); beloved niece, Glenda Thornton (Jimmy); stepdaughters Carol Bowling (Roger), and Diane Herston (Mike); three grandchildren, Tara Payton (Porter), Layne Rinks (Katie), Kelley Kain (Chip), Matthew Staples (Abbey); and eight great-grandchildren, William, Harper, Mack, Mary Layne, Evelyn, Mary Davis, Margaret and James.
Her family also included the precious women who have worked at the Village Shoppe for so many years, whom she loved like blood and who added pizzazz and sparkle to an already fabulous life. Thank you Barbara Lindsey, Janet Cherry, Pat Graham, Orpah Hagler and Bonnie Vickers for your loyalty and love to our mom.
Pallbearers include Layne Rinks, Matthew Staples, Porter Payton, Chip Kain, Ronnie Bowling, Phillip Jhin, Ronald Gene Bowling, Jimmy Thornton, Melvin Hagler, Othel McClanahan and Gene Aycock. The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Adam Isbell, Alacare Hospice, and loving caregiver and friend, Liz Tapp. Memorials may be made to Arc of the Shoals and the Kruzn for a Kure Foundation.
“She is more precious than rubies.” Proverbs 3:15
