William "Bill" Bruce McLain

William Bruce “Bill” McLain, of Lake Limestone-Thornton, passed away at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple, on Monday, April 27, 2026, at age 83.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

A Memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8, in the Chapel at Groesbeck Funeral Home, with Dr. Keith Collier of the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck officiating.

Bill was born on March 31, 1943, to William Melvin McLain and Bessie Mae Keener McLain in Lawton, OK. Because of some very heartbreaking circumstances, Bill was raised by two very special people, his aunt and uncle, Pernie and Harold Ford. Since Bill was from a small town, people there were known by 2 names, so Bill was always known as Billy Bruce. He graduated from Snyder High School in Snyder, OK and then attended Cameron University in Lawton and earned an associate’s degree in business.

Before being drafted, Bill joined the Army National Guard of Oklahoma and was assigned as a Cook’s Apprentice.

After getting through basic training, he began work as a Plumber Apprentice. He worked as a commercial plumber and was a lifelong member of Local 344 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in Oklahoma City. He just recently completed 60 years in the Union. One of his favorite jobs was adding numerous bathrooms to the OU Sooners Football Stadium. He retired in 2006.

Before his marriage to Carol, Bill loved to race boats. He was a very competitive person and loved to win. He always told the story about going through the gate on the hood of his boat at over 100 mph. Carol always called this era the “BC” time of his life – Before Carol! He also loved to snow ski and would wear a cowboy hat going down the slopes.

Bill was united in marriage with Carol Jean Majorwitz on June 6, 1981. They lived in Oklahoma City for 35 years in the area called Tornado Alley.

As members of the Oklahoma City church, Southern Hills Baptist Church, they got to go on numerous mission trips to Canada with the Senior Adult Choir. Bill was the director of the Young Adult Singles Ministry, where he made many lasting friendships.

Around 2016, Bill decided they needed to get back closer to Carol’s family, so they moved permanently to their Lake Limestone property which they had purchased in 2009. After moving there, Bill was quoted on more than one occasion as saying that “he had lived in Oklahoma for 73 years and Carol was now trying to make a Texan out of him.”

For Carol’s 50th. birthday, he surprised her with their first of many cruises. He loved to just sit on the ship and relax and people-watch as well as look at all the beautiful scenery. But his really favorite thing was all the excellent food and the many different choices that he got to experience.

At the age of 2 years, Bill and his mom and dad were on their way to church and someone hit their car, and his mom was killed. After meeting Jesus in Heaven, Bill will have a special reunion and get to meet his mom.

He is also preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Bessie; aunt and uncle, Perna Rea and Harold Ford; sisters-in-law, Gloria Lovell and Mary Evelyn Majorwitz, and nephew, Win Beavers.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carol McLain of Thornton, TX; children, Christina and Keith Heck of Tulsa, OK, Will and Careena Vick of Aubrey, TX, and Angie and Buck Carraway of Groesbeck, TX. His grandchildren are: Clay Abbitt (Alan), Hannah Vick, Kassidy Vick, and Carlene Carraway.Bill had no brothers or sisters but after marrying into Carol’s large family, he acquired all these wonderful in-laws – his peace and quiet were gone forever: Gene Lovell, Shirlie and Eager Beavers, John “Buddy” Majorwitz, Kathy and Billy Mueller, and Danny Majorwitz; and also nieces and nephews: Barbara (Troy), Lisa (Chuck), Natalie (Jeremy), Jennifer, Josh (Cory), Jared (Kassi), Travis (Candace), Ashley (Matt), Jonathan, and many more great nieces and great nephews. And numerous other family members, friends far and wide, and very special friends, Pam and Glen Foster in OKC, Robert and Linda DeLong in OKC, Bob and Jerry Thomasson in Georgia, and special neighbors, John and Ricki Jo Bonner.

It’s hard to sum up his life in a few short paragraphs – he will be greatly missed. Love you Bill!