Last Saturday I asked the doctor if they were doing anything for Bill to help him get better. He had nothing else to offer. I told him I wanted to take him home. He asked to come home every day for the last two weeks. He missed his cat Tater and wanted to see him so much.

We arranged for hospice to look after him at home. We left Little Rock around 8:30 that night and I followed the ambulance home. We got to the beginning of our street, just 3 houses away from our house when he passed. He died just a little after 11:00pm. His cat will not come in the house. He sticks his head in the door, sniffs around and backs out of the door. He knows Bill is not here.

Thank you all for everything from the bottom of my heart and thank you Darlene for all you have done. I love you all so much.

William "Bill" McClelland, 77, of Van Buren died Sunday, June 4, 2006, at a local hospital. He was a retired Army master sergeant, having served in the Korea and Vietnam wars. He received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. A member of the Veterans of America, he was a former employee of Auto Parts Sales in Barling. He is survived by his wife, Glenda McClelland; four daughters, Joyce Watson and Jean Snow, both of Van Buren, Leigh Ann Newman of Fort Smith and Terri Foley of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; two sons, Joe McClelland and Bryan McClelland, both of Van Buren; one sister, Patricia Zamiahan of Tampa, Fla.; one brother, W.D. McClelland of Tampa, Fla., five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at at Ocker Memorial Chapel. Burial with full military honors will be at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren.

Pallbearers will be Kim Newman, Brandon Newman, Lin Henry, Bobby Henry, James Crowley and Mike Snow.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1604 Merrill Drive, Suite D, Little Rock, 72211.

I will miss him so much. Tonight will be my first by myself.

Tater let me carry him into the house yesterday. He went straight to Bill's room and laid under the bed for a while and then in the doorway. He cried such a mournful meow several times and went back out side. I brought him in again tonight and he ate some and went to the bedroom again. He cried some more, such a sad mournful cry. Then he came in there where I am and just talked and meouwed for a while and then out side he went. He is in mourning and it is so sad, even his eyes look sad and without their usual sparkle.

I am so tired, I wish I could sleep for a week. Maybe I will get to sleep in tomorrow. I sleep but don't stay asleep for long.

I love all of you so much and thanks for letting me talk tonight about Tater.

Oh yes at the service in the chapel today, the minister mentioned Tater as a survivor. He said he had never preached at funeral where he felt it was necessary to include a cat. He just wanted everyone to know about the special bond the two of them had and how much Bill fought for breath to stay alive to get home.( I knew that when I got to take him home that there was a strong chance that he would not make it. But we had to try) The family and the minster talked last night about the relationship Bill had with his Tater. I put a pic of Tater inside Bill's suit next to his heart so that he will always have him near.