Carol McLain Phelps' Obituary
Carol McLain Phelps of Germantown, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Oct. 9, 2024. She was born to the late Josephine and John McLain in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended St. John Catholic Elementary School and graduated in 1970 from Messick High School. In 1977, she received a bachelor of business administration in marketing from Memphis State University. She went on to pursue numerous advanced educational degrees, certifications and specialized training: an associate degree in industrial engineering from State Technical Institute in 1981; a bachelor of science in mathematics from the University of Albuquerque in 1986; a master of science in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1988; a master of science in industrial engineering from New Mexico State University in 1995; and, an American Society of Safety
Engineers certification in 2000. She also held U.S. government “Q” level security clearance.
She married Lawrence (Larry) Phelps in 1982, and the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for her career in environmental, safety, and health working at Sandia National Laboratories, which has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness. She worked there until her retirement in 2008. Prior to her career at Sandia, she worked at South Central Bell in Memphis from 1970 to 1982.
After Carol’s retirement from Sandia, the couple moved to Middleton, Tennessee, to build their dream home on 40 acres of land. After Larry’s passing in 2012, Carol moved to Germantown to be closer to family and friends.
Carol was loved very much and will be greatly missed. She had many passions and hobbies, and all begin with the letter C: Catholic, Cats, Crafts, Cake, and Connections.
A devout Catholic, Carol was a prayerful, pious women of great faith and owned an extensive collection of rosary beads, some of which she made. After moving back to Tennessee, she became a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee, and then Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Germantown.
She loved cats – all breeds, shapes, and sizes. She had a particular soft spot for strays who always seemed to find her and know she would take very good care of them. Her gentle nature could tame even the most feral and skittish cat.
A uniquely creative person, Carol loved sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting and crafting. She was always on the hunt for new ideas to make and share, having a room in her home filled with everything needed to make something unique.
But perhaps what Carol is best known for is her love of baking. Her greatest joy was baking cakes and cookies to share with those in her doctors’ offices, neighbors, church functions, and of course, family and friends. Having Carol’s baked goods was always a coveted treat.
Carol enjoyed meeting new people and making connections. She stayed strongly connected to her Italian roots as a member of the Italian Ladies Civic League. Because of her thoughtful nature, she would go out of her way to make any day memorable by either baking something special or sending cards with a quick note to brighten someone’s day.
Carol is preceded in death by her father, John J. McLain; her mother, Josephine Giuntini McLain; and husband, Larry Phelps. She is survived by her sister, Eva McLain Burdett (Stephen) of Dana Point, California, many cousins, and friends.
Friends will be received at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown, Tennessee, 38138 on Monday, Nov. 18. Visitation will be held from
10 —10:45 a.m., with a rosary beginning at 10:45 a.m. and funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. A reception will immediately follow the mass.
She will be entombed at Calvary Cemetery during a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the House of Mews, 933 S. Cooper, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104 (houseofmews.com), or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 223 Mecklinburg Dr., Bolivar, Tennessee, 38008.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tennessee, 38120.
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