Living

Living married Eddi-Rue "Rue" McClanahan. Eddi-Rue (daughter of William "Bill" Edwin McClanahan and Rhuea Nell Medaris) was born on 21 Feb 1934 in Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma; died on 3 Jun 2010 in Manhattan, New York County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Actor Rue McClanahan of the 'Golden Girls' fame passed away in Manhattan on Thursday. She was 76. She is survived by husband, Morrow Wilson, son, Mark T. Bish and sister, Melinda Lou McClanahan. Barbara Lawrence, her Manager, confirmed the cause of death to be a brain hemorrhage. Ms. McClanahan was ailing for sometime and had undergone heart bypass surgery in 2009. Earlier, she underwent treatment for breast cancer in 1997.

Rue McClanahan shot into limelight with her performance in 'The Golden Girls', an epic sitcom telecast in 1985. 'The Golden Girls' was an instant hit, climbing to No. 1 position after its very first show. Rue McClanahan's role, as a Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, played a key contribution in the immense popularity of the show. Other actors who played the Golden Girls were Ms. Betty White (Rose), Ms. Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Ms. Estelle Getty (Sophia, Dorothy's mother). With the passing away of Ms. McClanahan, only Ms. White (88) survives of the 'eccentric four'.

She was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1934. Her father was a contractor and mother a beautician. She grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Her debut as an actor came early when she played a part in 'The Three Little Kittens', a local production, at the tender age of four. She studied drama and German at the University of Tulsa and graduated in 1956. In her early career, she appeared onstage in New York on several occasions.

In her Broadway debut in Murray Schisgal's 'Jimmy Shine', Ms. McClanahan's played the role of a prostitute. She won Obie Award for her role of the father's mistress in Oliver Hailey's "Who's Happy Now?", an Off Broadway family drama. She also acted in sitcoms, 'All in the Family' and 'Maude'.

However, it was her work in 'The Golden Girls' that brought her maximum fame. The sitcom, which is about four eccentric middle aged women, gained unprecedented popularity and won many Emmys. Ms. McClanahan captured this prestigious award for her outstanding performance as lead actor. Her role in the show was inspired by 'Gone with the Winds' actors, Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois, she once said. On another occasion she remarked that 'The Golden Girls' brought out different layers that people go on adding as they age. The show reveals our child, adolescence as well as personality as mature women, she added.

Many industry critics believe that shows like 'Sex and the City', which is about four young funny women, take cue for 'The Golden Girls'.

After "The Golden Girls" was discontinued in 1992, Ms. McClanahan acted in "The Golden Palace", a spinoff. She also acted in movies and on Broadways. She was a passionate animal rights activist and delivered a lecture on 'Aging Gracefully'.

Ms. McClanahan was married six times-Morrow Wilson, Tom Bish, Norman Hartweg, Peter D'Maio, Gus Fisher and Tom Keel- and titled her autobiography, which was authored in 1997, 'My First Five Husbands ? And the Ones Who Got Away.'

Notes:

Obituary, below, copied from this FindAGrave memorial page created by Stone Seeker.

Source: Daily Ardmoreite

Services for William E. McClanahan, 90, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Larry Berryhill officiating. Burial with Navy military honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

McClanahan was born July 4, 1908, at Tucumcari, N.M., to Jess and Fannie Copeland McClanahan. He died Feb. 20, 1999, in a Plano, Texas, hospital after a brief illness.

A resident of Ardmore since 1948, moving here from Healdton, he was a building contractor and engineer. As a Navy warrant officer in the Sea Bees during World War II, he saw duty in Alaska, Okinawa and Shimu. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, in Lodge 31, AF&AM. He and Marie Porter Lewis were married February 1978 in Mexico.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two daughters, Rue McClanahan, New York City, and Melinda McClanahan, Washington, D.C.; four stepdaughters, Debra VanTilBerg, Celina, Ohio, Barbara Berry, Dallas, Carolyn McCabe, Middletown, Ohio, and Jill Philpot, Barboursville, Ky.; a brother, Jess, Wilson; a sister, Wenona Pollard, Delhi, La.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the enrichment foundation of any area school.

William married Rhuea Nell Medaris on 9 Apr 1933. Rhuea was born on 11 Jul 1912 in Kenefick, Bryan County, Oklahoma; died on 16 Nov 1973 in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma; was buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1940 Federal census, Rhuea sister, Irene Medaris, age 23, was living with their family. Her occupation was shown as Operator.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Oklahoma, Carter County, Hewitt Twp
Enumerated 19 Jan 1920
SD 3 D 54 Sheet 24B
524-529
McClanahan, J E Head M W 44 M Mo Tn Mo Carpenter
McClanahan, Fanny Wf F W 34 M Ok Tn Mo
McClanahan, William Son M W 11 S New Mexico Mo Ok
McClanahan, Wynona Dtr F W 8 S Ok Mo Ok
McClanahan, Jessie Son m W 6 S Ok Mo Ok
McClanahan, Leonard Son M W 4 S Ok Mo Ok
McClanahan, Jay Son M W 2 1/12 S Ok Mo Ok

Jesse married Fannie Florence Copeland on 18 Jul 1907. Fannie (daughter of James G. Copeland and Mary "Polly" Denby Edge) was born on 2 Feb 1885 in Arthur, Parks Township, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 19 Aug 1975 in Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma; was buried in Mount Olive Cemetery, Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1910 Census, her older brother, William Copeland, who later married Edith Payne, was living with them. His wife Edith was a daughter of Levi Newton Payne and Sarah McClanahan.

Notes:

Married:
When Jesse asked Fannie's mother for her hand, her mother said: "If it's the Lord's will and Jim don't care, then I don't."