Mr Charles Thomas McLain

March 4, 1932 - September 20, 2021

Charles Thomas McLain Carthage, MS Charles Thomas McLain, age 89, a lifetime resident of Forest Grove, passed away on September 20, 2021 at the Lighthouse Personal Care Home in Madden. Visitation and funeral services will be conducted at the Forest Grove Presbyterian Church from 9:00 to 10:00 am and 10:00 am respectively on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Step Morgan will officiate. Interment will follow in the Forest Grove Cemetery under the direction of Wilcox Funeral Home. Born March 24, 1932, Mr. McLain was a dedicated, lifelong member of Forest Grove Presbyterian Church. Charles served as a church elder, Sunday School Director and caretaker. He was very generous with his skills to help people throughout the community. He was employed by Carthage Corporation for 40 years. Charles was very fond of animals and his care of animals gained notoriety in the book "Treecat The Tree Dwelling Cat" written by Jewett Thomas Battles and illustrated by Offie Thomas Oakes. The story of Charles' cat that lived in a tree for over 5 years was featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not, People Magazine, along with newspapers and various TV segments. Charles and his sister, Mary Emma McLain, made numerous school visits in the area to read to children and share the adventures of Treecat. As stated in the book, "For many years, in the small community of Forest Grove, Mississippi, an extraordinarily kind man lived a quite ordinary life. That is until one day a kitten wandered into his yard and became a local legend..." Charles is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Emma McLain and parents, Luther Thomas and Emma Leah Montgomery McLain. Pallbearers are Ronny Ramsey, Chris Ramsey, Mike Sanford, Trace Liedtke, Tristen Ramsey, and Jason Gomillion. Honorary pallbearers are Pete Moore, Brad Gomillion, Dwight Brock, Alton Parker, and John Cauthen.