Jeanne V. Mc Cord

Jeanne V. McCord, 86, formerly of Bluffton, died at 10:52 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany, Ind. She spent most of her life living in Bluffton with her husband, Eugene “Mac” McCord before moving to New Albany in 2006. Mrs. McCord was involved for more than 20 years in public service, virtually all of it in a volunteer capacity. She became an outreach worker in 1970 with the present Community & Family Services agency and served more than 15 years as the nominee to that agency from the Wells County Board of Commissioners. She also worked with the food/utility bank for a number of years when the community aid organization had its beginning under the Bluffton Ministerial Association. She also was the founder of the Wells County Assistance and Christmas Bureau which developed from an organization initially helping 25 to 30 families to one which currently provides assistance to more than 350 families in Wells County. She also was instrumental in organizing the Panos Free Clinic. Mrs. McCord and her husband are both past recipients of the distinguished “Sagamore of the Wabash” award. She was presented with Indiana’s highest civilian honor during the term of the late Gov. Frank O’Bannon. She was a past recipient of the “Community Service Award” from the Indiana Governor’s Voluntary Action Program. She was honored in 1991 by then-Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh. She is also a past recipient of the Woman of the Year Award from the Bluffton Professional Women association. Mrs. McCord was a member of the Bluffton First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years She also is an honorary member and past president of the local chapter of Psi Iota Xi sorority. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on Dec. 20, 1922, to George R. and Vivian (Smith) Botkin, she graduated from Ravenna High School in 1940, attended a junior college in Florida for two years, then transferred to Kent State University. She married Eugene McCord on Jan. 30, 1944 in Kent, Ohio. At the conclusion of World War II, the McCords moved to Bluffton where Mr. McCord was employed with the News-Banner editorial staff for more than 50 years. In addition to the husband in New Albany, other survivors include three daughters, Jennifer (Sam) Crum of Fairmount, Amy (Sate Rep. Ed) Clere of New Albany and Susanna McCord of Bluffton; and three sons, Michael (Lucie Dufresne) McCord of Ottawa, Canada, David (Lois) McCord of Phoenix, Ariz., and Dan McCord of St. Louis, Mo. Also surviving are a brother, G. Robert Botkin of Camino, Calif., 10 grandchildren, Matthew Crum, Lynnette Gray, Mallari Crum, Alan Dykes, Lauren Dykes Hicks, Megan Dykes, John Clere, Hannah Clere, Michael McCord and Colin McCord; two great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, John. A grave site service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton with Pastor Bud Abrams of First Baptist Church officiating. A memorial service is planned for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at Providence Retirement Home in New Albany. Preferred memorials are to the Panos Free Clinic or First Baptist Church. Arrangements are by Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.thomarich.com.

Jeanne V. Mc Cord

December 20, 1922 - May 31, 2009