On November 13, 1921 Lindsay Edward McClenny, Sr. was born in Tacoma, Washington. When Lindsay was 12 years of age he heard his sister, Claire, speak at a church in Seattle where she was asking for volunteers to serve the Lord as missionaries. The seed for missionary work was planted in Lindsay’s heart that night.
Lindsay attended the University of Washington where he met his wife, Marion Westby, whom he married in 1944. Lindsay completed his degree in medicine at Northwestern University in Illinois after which time Lindsay went to Doctors Hospital, Seattle where he completed his internship and surgical residency.
In 1948 Lindsay, Marion and daughter Claire went to South East Alaska where Lindsay worked on a converted mine sweeper, the Willis Shank, bringing medical care and the gospel to Indian villages along the Alaska coast. In 1955, Lindsay was drafted by the United States armed services. Lindsay joined the Army and served for two years at Fort Benning, GA after leaving Klawock, Akaska.
In 1957 Lindsay and Marion applied to Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) and in 1960 the McClenny family (without daughter Claire who stayed in Wheaton, IL with the Dexter McClenny family) went to Doro, Sudan to work with the Mabaan tribe. This was a continuation of work started by Lindsay’s sister Claire and her husband, Dr. Bob Grieve, who were killed in a bombing attack in the early days of the Second World War.
In 1964 Lindsay and his family were expelled from Sudan during the Sudanese civil war. Lindsay worked at the Church of Scotland mission hospital in Aden, South Yemen while waiting to obtain visas for Ethiopia. In 1965, Lin and Marion started work in Ethiopia serving in mission hospitals in Dilla and Shashamane. Ten years later (1975) they were forced to flee from Ethiopia during the communist revolution.
After working in family practice and general surgery in Seattle for ten years, Lindsay and Marion went to Dessalines, Haiti where they served the Haitian people at the hospital from 1985 until 1990. On the return to the PNW, Lindsay served on Project Fare-Well and the Africa Task Force at University Presbyterian Church. After Marion’s health declined, Lindsay stayed home to be with her and his ministry became one of prayer. The Jan 2000 UPC Times quoted Lindsay as saying, “We hoped that the compassion, tenderness, and love of Jesus were manifested in our hospital ministry and that those under treatment would turn from superstition and darkness to light and life in Jesus Christ.”
As children of Lindsay, we believe Lindsay’s hope was realized. To this day it is encouraging to hear from those he served that Lindsay is remembered for his care, love, concern and dedication to the Lord’s work. Lindsay put action to the Lord’s words found in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We invite you to celebrate Lindsay’s life with us at Alderwood Community Church on July 26, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
Alderwood Community Church
3403 Alderwood Mall Boulevard
Lynnwood, WA 98036-4721
(425) 774-7766
Over the past years one of Lindsay’s passions was SIM’s project to restart the medical work in Doro, South Sudan. Instead of sending flowers we would invite you to donate to this project (Number 98018). Checks can be sent to:
Project 98018/McClenny
P.O. Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241
USA