Mary Eleanor Taylor McLean

Mary Eleanor Taylor McLean, 84, entered into rest on Monday June 25, 2012 at Aiken Regional Medical Center. Mrs. McLean was born in Aiken, SC on March 10,1928 and lived in Aiken all of her life. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Willie Taylor and Bertie Shellhouse Taylor. She was a graduate of Aiken High School in 1945. She met the love of her life, Fred Brinkley McLean when she was just 18 years old. They later married and also became business partners. Together they owned and operated Millbrook Supermarket and the Dairi-O Bar along with Mary's brother, John Taylor, and his wife, Ernestine Taylor. After having children, she devoted all of her time to being a wonderful wife and mother. She had many talents and was especially gifted at sewing, cooking, and nurturing her loved ones. She loved her family so much that she put her dream of becoming a realtor on hold until the late 1970's. It was only then that she studied real estate and became a licensed South Carolina realtor. She was very successful in this endeavor, beginning at Becker Realty and working at several local agencies including Ashhurst and Aiken Properties. In 1991 she achieved her dream of opening her own agency, Triple Crown Realty, Inc. While running this business, she became a million dollar producer and in 1999, she was recognized by the Aiken Board of Realtors as a Lifetime Member of the Circle of Excellence. It was her family, however, that she was most proud of and devoted to through all of the chapters of her life. She was a lady of great strength and character who instilled Christian values in all of her children. She was a member of First Baptist Church and attended faithfully until her decline in health made it impossible. Her children were blessed to have the best mother that ever lived. We will miss her every day of our lives but know that she is now with our Daddy and our Heavenly Father. We take comfort in knowing that someday we will all be reunited in Heaven. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred Brinkley McLean as well as her parents and six sisters: Velma T. Couch, Dorothy T. Brown, Kathleen T. Cynova, Mildred T. Banes, Ruth T. Walton, Marjorie T. Thomas and one brother, Joseph Luther Taylor. Survivors include her three daughters: Debra McLean (Drew) Murphy, Kathy Marcelle McLean, Mary Ann McLean (Matt) Fry, and one son, Fred Douglas McLean all of Aiken, S.C. Additional survivors include six grandchildren: Jennifer Reed (Merritt) Yeager of Beaufort, S.C. Melissa Reed Nation and Ryan Andrew Murphy both of Aiken, S.C., Christopher Matthew Fry of Columbia, S.C, Nicholas Beecher Fry and Haley Alexandra Fry, both of Aiken, SC and two great-granddaughters, Isabella (Izzy) Anne Yeager and Merritt (Emi) McLean Yeager both of Beaufort, S.C. She is also survived by one sister, Laura T. Hicks of Aiken, S.C. and one brother, John W. Taylor of North Augusta, S.C. She was greatly anticipating the upcoming birth of a third great-grand child, Jack Griffin Nation in July of 2012. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, June 28, 2012 at First Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C. with Dr. Fred Andrea III officiating. Interment will follow in the Historic Bethany Cemetery, Aiken, S.C. Pallbearers will be Brian Brown, Carl Brown, Jr., Chuck Deen, Michael Deen, Michael Shaffer, Keith Taylor, Richard Taylor, and Dr. Larry Ware. Memorial contributions may be directed to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3157, Aiken, SC 29802 or Epworth's Children Home, 2900 Millwood Avenue, Columbia, S.C. 29205 Mrs. McLean’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Eleanor Taylor McLean, please visit our flower store.